Child Maltreatment (Child Abuse)

Overview

This course presents a practical approach to identifying and reporting suspected child maltreatment in the health care setting. Child

maltreatment affects more than half a million children in the United States every year. Nurses have a moral duty and legal obligation to report child maltreatment whenever they suspect it. Readers will learn to screen for child maltreatment, as well as evaluate indicators of child maltreatment to determine when to file a report with their appropriate state agency.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the reader will be able to:

1. Define child maltreatment and differentiate it from child abuse.
2. Describe the prevalence of child maltreatment.
3. Differentiate between the various types of child maltreatment.
4. Describe mandatory reporting requirements for child maltreatment and the concept of reasonable suspicion.
5. Identify factors that predispose a child to maltreatment.
6. Identify significant indicators of child maltreatment.
7. Screen for child maltreatment during routine assessments of children.
8. Summarize the methods for reporting child maltreatment.