Child abuse is a significant social issue, which has the potential to impact on the development and wellbeing of the individual throughout the lifespan. Nurses have a vital role in recognising and...

Child
  abuse
  is
  a
  significant
  social
  issue,
  which
  has
  the
  potential
  to
  impact
  on
  the
  development
  and
   wellbeing
  of
  the
  individual
  throughout
  the
  lifespan.
  Nurses
  have
  a
  vital
  role
  in
  recognising
  and
   responding
  to
  abuse.
  The
  purpose
  of
  assessment
  task
  one
  is
  to
  investigate
  the
  roles
  and
  professional
   responsibilities
  of
  the
  nurse
  when
  caring
  for
  children
  who
  may
  have
  experienced
  abuse.
   Further,
  this
   assessment
  task
  is
  designed
  to
  encourage
  you
  to
  consider
  the
  impact
  that
  abuse
  may
   have
  on
  a
   young
  child’s
  health
  and
  development.






Scenario:
   You
  are
  working
  in
  the
  Emergency
  Department
  when
  Samuel,
  a
  2
  year
  old
  boy,
  presents
  with
  a
   fracture
  to
  his
  right
  scapula.
  Samuel
  is
  a
  previously
  well
  child
  with
  no
  significant
  health
  history.
  On
   assessment,
  Samuel
  has
  significant
  swelling
  and
  bruising
  over
  his
  right
  shoulder,
  and
  is
  distressed
   when
  you
  handle
  his
  right
  arm.
  He
  also
  has
  small,
  oval
  shaped
  bruises
  on
  his
  upper
  arm,
  and
   yellowed
  bruising
  around
  his
  left
  ear.
  You
  take
  a
  history
  from
  Samuel’s
  mother,
  who
  tells
  you
  that
   Samuel
  fell
  off
  the
  bottom
  step
  and
  landed
  on
  his
  back
  yesterday
  afternoon.
  She
  states
  that
  he
   “seemed
  ok”
  after
  the
  fall
  but
  that
  when
  she
  got
  him
  out
  of
  bed
  this
  morning
  he
  wouldn’t
  move
  his
   arm,
  so
  she
  brought
  him
  to
  the
  emergency
  department.






Assignment
  Question:





Discuss
  the
  potential
  impact
  of
  abuse
  on
  the
  development
  and
  wellbeing
  of
  the
  child.
   Identify
  factors
  in
  Samuel’s
  presentation
  that
  may
  indicate
  that
  he
  has
  been
  abused,
   and
   describe
  your
  professional
  responsibilities
  when
  abuse
  is
  suspected