Reference no: EM132193310

Question: Comment 1: Nurses are one of the many groups who are mandatory reporters in the state of Oregon. One of the issues we are required to report is suspected child abuse. You can report abuse by using the statewide abuse reporting line at 855-503-SAFE; by contacting your closest Child Welfare Office; or by contacting law enforcement (Oregon Health Authority). According to ORS 419B.015, the first step should be to contact the Department of Health and Human Services and provide an oral report. This can be done via the statewide abuse reporting line. They then notify local law enforcement. In my ADN program, we discussed immediately seeking out your supervisor when you suspect abuse, so your supervisor is aware of the situation and can help in the reporting of the suspected abuse.

A scenario requiring mandatory reporting would be an 8-month-old baby with bruising along his body who is below a normal weight. He is brought to the ER by his mother and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is always present and answers the questions. She is quiet and tearful, unwilling to make eye contact. Her boyfriend reports the baby obtained the bruises after laying against the railing of the crib. You suspect abuse.

Overview of mandatory reporting in Oregon

Reporting suspected child abuse

References: Oregon Health Authority. (n.d). In Reporting suspected child abuse.

Chapter 419B - Juvenile Code: Dependency. (2017). ORS 419B.015 Report form and contact; notice.

Comment 2: In the state of Arizona, the mandated reporter statute states that the actual or suspected abuse be reported immediately either by phone or in person at a law enforcement office. The person making the report does not need to prove abuse, that will be handled with a proper investigation. The following information is requested if known; name, age, gender of individual, other family members, address, phone numbers, parents place of employment current condition of the individual and description of suspected abuse or neglect ("Report Child Abuse", 2018).

The steps in order to report include reporting the suspected or actual abuse by phone or in person immediately. The reporter will identify themselves, tell them what type of reporting source you are (RN). Then information is gathered regarding the individual such as age and location, inform who is involved in the alleged abuse, explain the situation of what happened that concerns the reporter and provide any additional details you think are pertinent to the safety of the individual ("Adult Protective Services", 2018).

A ten-year-old boy comes in for surgery and will not answer the nurse's questions without first looking to his father for approval. Upon physical examination and auscultation of the patient's heart and lung sounds, the nurse notices multiple bruising on the patient's abdomen and back. The patient has quick reflexes when assessing and refuses for the nurse to put the blood pressure cuff on his arm. The parent went into the restroom with the patient to change his clothes and empty his bladder. The nurse did not have a good feeling about this patients well-being. The nurse has had many 10-year-old patients in the past but none of them have behaved in this manner towards her or their parent. The nurse immediately involved her charge nurse, social services and hospital security. The father was escorted to the waiting room while the patient was interviewed by social services who then notified CPS and local law enforcement. The nurse followed her facility's protocol for reporting suspected abuse.

Adult Protective Services (APS). (2018).

Report Child Abuse or Neglect. (2018).