Child Abuse and Neglect: A Case Study on Mandatory Reporting Laws in Australia

Running head: PROBLEM SOLVING CASE STUDY
PROBLEM SOLVING CASE STUDY
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PROBLEM SOLVING CASE STUDY
This case is one of the most complicated one that nurses have to handle while caring for
children who are of immature ages to take their own decisions. The case study shows that the
nurse has identified a number of aspects during her assessment and care for the child named
Andre who had come to the ward for dressing and monitoring of a wound he had faced. He is six
years old and his father named Boris had accompanied him. Several wounds had been found at
different parts of his body that are quite old and are very similar to wounds caused due to abuse
and not due to falls. Moreover, the child is also seen to be withdrawn and was not
communicating with the nurse that is often related to the symptoms of the abuse faced by the
children. Researchers are of the opinion that children who have been physically advised have
common signs that can help the nurses in identifying the possible cues of child abuse (Wisket,
2014). Bruises, welts as well as other injuries which cannot be explained or does not match with
story is one such cues and similar had been the case where the story told by Boris about the fall
of his son did not match with the wound that was present. Moreover, injuries those are at the
different stages of healing, the children avoiding any form of touch or physical contact, children
showing withdrawal, medical issues that goes untreated – all show that the children have been
abused (Turner et al., 2017). In cases of Andre, many such signs are present which states that his
father must have abused him. Moreover, the nurse had heard the father threatening his son to not
reveal about an incident to the other people. This raises a concern that he might be telling is son
to not reveal about the abuse incidents.
In this case, it is the duty of the nursing professionals to ensure mandatory reporting of
the child abuse to the concerned authorities to stop any further harm to the child. Mandatory
reporting can be a term that can be used in the description of the legislative requirement for
selected group of people for reporting suspected cases of child abuse as well as neglect to that of

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PROBLEM SOLVING CASE STUDY
the government authorities (Johnstone, 2015). The Parliaments in all Australian states and
territories have enacted different mandatory reporting laws of some description but the laws are
not same everywhere across all the jurisdictions. The main concerns are the persons on duty who
have to report and what types of abuses that should be reported (McKinney et al., 2017). A list
had been provided where different states have their own criteria for reporting and extent of harm
that should be reported. However, this is a fact that it s legislation that very nursing professionals
need to abide by to ensure best healthcare and practices. Australian nursing and midwifery
Federation had put forward a position statement called the “Child abuse and neglect”. The
position statement had stated “Nurses and midwives play an important role in the prevention,
identification, and intervention in the case of child abuse and neglect and in the ongoing care,
education and support of the children and their families” (Child abuse and Neglect, ANMF
Position Statement, 2016). Therefore, in that way, it becomes the duty of the nursing professional
attending Andre to report the abuse case to the governmental authority so that the child can be
protected from further turmoil.
The NMBA standards of practice for the registered nurses has put forward standard 3
which shows the importance of “maintaining the capability of practice” of the nurses. The duty
of the nurses would be to “accept accountability for decisions, actions, behaviors and
responsibilities inherent in their role, and for the actions of others to whom they have delegated
responsibilities” (Registered nurse standards for practice, Nursing and Midwifery Board in
Australia, 2016). Therefore, Kimiko here need to be responsible with her professional and had to
take interventions by which she can provide a better quality life to the child and ensure that no
more harm can affect him specially from his father. Therefore, she needs to be not only
accountable about ensuring better health of Andre but she should also undertake initiatives that