NRS 434 Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age
NRS 434 Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age
Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age—it can occur in the infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age years. Choose one of the four age groups and outline the types of abuse most commonly seen among children of that age. Describe warning signs and physical and emotional assessment findings the nurse may see that could indicate child abuse. Discuss cultural variations of health practices that can be misidentified as child abuse. Describe the reporting mechanism in your state and nurse responsibilities related to the reporting of suspected child abuse.
Latasha Brooks
Posted Date
Feb 3, 2022, 11:56 PM
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There a scores of resources available to the nurse designed to better identify possible abuse, whether it be physical or emotional. When considering possible signs of abuse or mistreatment, the nurse should recognize acute changes in the child’s behavior or patterns. According to the Child Welfare Department, a federally funded and mandated agency (Child Welfare Department, 2019), indicators that interventions may be needed are a decline in a child’s school performance. This may be related to lack of concentration as the child may withdraw as a sign of their own assessment of the degree of safety present in engaging and/or participating in contact with peers or authority figures outside of the home. Excessive absences may be attempts to allow time for healing of results of physical abuse such as abrasions, bruises, or fractures. Reluctantly to go home after school may also be an indicator of possible abuse.
Abuse goes beyond the physical nature. Emotional abuse has just as long lasting effects on school age children as physical abuse does. School age children are at a stage in their life where they desire to fit in with their peers, notice differences between themselves and other children, and may need assurance that abuse is not their fault (Falkner, 2018).
References
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2019). What is child abuse and neglect. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/whatiscan.pdf
Falkner, A. (2018). Grand Canyon University (E.D). Age-Appropriate Approach to Pediatric Health Care Assessment. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs434vn/health-assessment-foundations-for-effective-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/2.
- MG
Marise Guillaume Charles
replied toLatasha Brooks
Feb 4, 2022, 11:42 PM
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Hello Latasha,
You have provided an in-depth post and I agree with you. Ideally, child abuse and maltreatment is associated with devastating effects on children (Gonzalez et al., 2021). As such, it is important to report any case of child abuse. As mandated, nurses are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of child abuse or maltreatment and report to the relevant authority. Failure to report may lead to legal actions against them or disciplinary actions by their employers or board of nursing. If a nurse infers abuse or maltreatment, the first step is to report to the physician, nurse managers, or physician assistant. If the victim is presented to the facility with the alleged perpetrator, the assessment should be done without the perpetrator in the room. A comprehensive head-to-toe examination should be conducted to identify physical signs of abuse. It is essential to have a witness if possible. Nurses should ensure a comprehensive documentation and description of the findings, non-verbal behaviors, victim statements, and the statements and behaviors of the alleged perpetrator. The law enforcement should be notified instantly while the victim is still in the facility. Moreover, Child Protective Services should be called and followed up with a documented report (Lee & Kim, 2018).
References
Gonzalez, D., Mirabal, A. B., & McCall, J. D. (2021). Child abuse and neglect. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459146/
Lee, H. M., & Kim, J. S. (2018). Predictors of intention of reporting child abuse among emergency nurses. Journal of pediatric nursing, 38, e47-e52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2017.10.007
- MG
Mayreth Gonzalez Pena
replied toLatasha Brooks
Feb 5, 2022, 11:31 AM(edited)
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Latasha,
Great post and would like to contribute to it. Nurses are a great resource in health and therefore, they should be enlightened in every aspect of health practice. Nurses are supposed to be educated on how best they can identify abuse in whatever form it presents itself with. This is in line with tradition and cultural beliefs. There is a traditional practice performed by some African native groups in which coining can leave some purpura and this can mimic abuse. Nurses are supposed to be oriented with these practices so that they don’t conflict with the patient’s beliefs. Nurses ought to be culturally competent in order to serve their patients well. Thank you Latasha for sharing once again.
VC
Valencia Classen
Posted Date
Feb 3, 2022, 12:17 AM
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Child abuse and maltreatment can occur through all stages of age from infant to 18 years of age. “Nearly 3 in 4 children-or 300 million children-ages 2-4 years regularly suffer physical punishment and/or psychological violence at the hands of parents and caregivers” as per (WHO).
According to American Acadamy of Pediatrics, “the highest rate of child abuse is in babies less than one year of age, and 25 percent of victims are younger than three”. Most cases reported to Child Protective Services are neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse.
Warning signs of child abuse include withdrawal of friends or usual activity, depression, anxiety or unusual fears, hostility, or a sudden loss of confidence that can be detected assessments done by Nurses.
In California, reports of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be made by mandated reporters to any police department or sheriff’s department. Nurses are mandated reporters and should make child abuse or suspected abuse to designated agencies.
Refences
World Health Organization
American Academy of Pediatricssch…
https://www. Healthy
https://www.mayoclinic…
Mayo Clinic
- TL
Thomas Leen
replied toValencia Classen
Feb 3, 2022, 3:58 AM
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Valencia,
Great post this week. Unfortunately this is another sad topic that is all too prevalent in our world today. Understanding the key signs of abuse and being able to address your concerns without parents present is vital. These children are helpless and look to the adult for help. When they are scare of said adult it makes their upbringing much more difficult. I did not know child abuse was as high as 25%. Good job again!
- SO
Stanley Ogbo
replied toValencia Classen
Feb 6, 2022, 12:22 AM
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Hello Valencia,
Thanks again for your great post. I completely agree with your points especially on the cardinal signs and symptoms of child abuse and the percentage of child abuse. A child can be abused by parents, siblings, friends, family and even caregivers. Nurses should be very observant during child health assessments. Some of the signs of child abuse in school include the child telling the parents that “he does not want to go back to that school“. Such statement should not be taken lightly from a child. The parents or care giver should ascertain why he made such statement. This brings to memory an incident that happened recently in Nigeria. A boy was being abused at a boarding school, but the parents were unaware. However, he told the parents that “I do not want to go back to that school again“. But they did not bother to find out why he made that statement. They still sent him back to the same school, the child was still abused again by friends by beating and forcing him to drink a caustic substance. He died unfortunately, after ingesting the toxic substance.
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Also Check Out: NRS 434 Topic 2 Developmental Assessment and the School Aged Child Assignment