Assignment Example on Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse

Discuss the common ethical and legal implications of mandatory reporting for nurses regardless of the state in which a Registered Nurse practices.

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Legal and ethical obligations regulate the professional responsibility of nurses on mandatory reporting for suspicion of child abuse. On the other hand, legislation dealing with child protection is divided into two main sections namely criminal law and civil law. Medical professionals specifically nurses, have an obligation of reporting their suspicion whenever a child is disposed to a harmful situation and requires support and protection from further physical, sexual and emotional abuse(Muller & Fink,2015). Ethical obligations can be traced back to medical and dental ethical codes which obligate the medical professionals to raise awareness on viable suggestions of Child Abuse and Neglects and report uncommon behavior signs. Medical professions who decline, delay or neglect to report a suspicion, is held accountable and often convicted to a pecuniary fine (Rossiter & Smith, 2014). Ethical obligation envelops children protection, the disabled and the elderly specifically when the community or their families abate in responding to their health care needs. Legal and ethical obligation is aligned in a standard operational procedure which requires suspicious signs be reported to Child Aids Society, Center for Social Services, to the police and finally the Juvenile Court.

Do the mandatory reporting laws ensure children will be protected? Explain your response.

The mandatory reporting laws ensure maximum protection of children from sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as dental neglects. According to Muller & Fink (2015), an evidence-based cross-jurisdiction comparison, jurisdictions with mandatory reporting laws appear to be affiliated with advanced case identification, efficient and exceptional standard operational procedure which ensures highlighted victims of maltreatment and neglect receive maximum jurisprudential protection from further substantial suffering and health consequences which may compromise a child's functioning throughout their lifespan(Wolfe, Dunne, & Kells,2016).

How would the RN overcome the feeling of hesitation to report suspected child abuse? Base your initial post on your readings and research on this topic.

Registered nurses are among the few medical practitioners who get to interact closely and directly with the children hence easy to identify any form of maltreatment and dental neglects in children (Muller & Fink, 2015). With the current awareness of the aspect of child maltreatment in the community, and the existence of legal document such as Social Care Act, the Penal Code, Family Law Act and Ombudsman for Children Act, an RN should note hesitate or reporting cases of child abuse and neglects ice they all back children welfare(Townsend, 2015). Lastly, the Penal Code requires any person inclusive of all medical professionals and officials aware of a criminal offense to report the incident to relevant authority or else they are liable to equal fine or imprisonment punishment.

Reference

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Muller, L. S.-H.-S. (2015). Mandatory Reporting: Let's Clear Up the Confusion. NursingCenter, 199-203.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services. (2016). Summary guide for mandated reporters in New York State. Retrieved from http://ocfs.ny.gov/ main/ publications/Pub1159.pdf

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Townsend, M. (2015). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.

Wolfe, B. E., Dunne, J. P., & Kells, M. R. (2016). Nursing care considerations for the hospitalized patient with an eating disorder. Nursing Clinics of North America, 51 (Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: An update), 213-235. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2016.01.006