NCJ Number
196242
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2002 Pages: 168-178
Date Published
May 2002
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on the factors that influence decisionmaking for a group of 10 South Australian community nurses in cases of suspected child abuse.
Abstract
In South Australia, registered nurses, along with other professionals, are required by law to report their suspicions of child abuse and neglect to the Department of Family and Youth Services. In the current study, each nurse participated in a structured interview that focused on factors that might influence whether or not she would report suspicions of child abuse to the authorities. Among the topics addressed in the interviews were type of abuse as a factor in the decision to report, moral judgments and decision-making, the influence of consequences of reporting, and impact versus outcomes of reporting. The most prominent theme that emerged from the interviews was the nurses' concern for best outcomes for children. Although these nurses would report suspected child abuse, they were less likely to report emotional abuse and neglect. In cases in which they suspected such forms of abuse, the nurses focused an assisting and educating families about parenting techniques. The nurses valued the trusting relationships they established with families, and they often felt a sense of betrayal when reporting abuse. The nurses avoided taking action that would possibly damage the relationships they had with their clients. Severing these relationships could mean little or no feedback about the safety and welfare of the children, the potential loss of the family from the welfare system, and feelings of unresolved grief for the nurses. These concerns should be addressed in further research that will produce guidelines for a credible, evidence-based reporting process; encourage interagency collaboration between child protection workers and community nurses; establish guidelines for the provision of feedback; and explore the reporting of emotional abuse and neglect, as well as child protection workers' responses to these reports. 21 references