University Nursing Assignment: Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

This nursing assignment addresses the sensitive topic of domestic violence and child abuse, specifically focusing on a 10-year-old victim presented to the emergency department. The assignment emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and therapeutic environment during a mental health interview. It highlights the need for nurses to use open-ended questions and consider the child's developmental stage and linguistic abilities. The solution provides detailed guidance on greeting the child, maintaining confidentiality, using an informal tone, and employing interactive methods like games and crayons to encourage the child to express themselves freely. The assignment also references relevant research studies and resources to support the recommended interviewing techniques, emphasizing the difference between chronological and developmental age and the need for careful assessment before questioning the patient. The references include works by First (2014), Hunter.cuny.edu (2019), MacKinnon et al. (2015, 2013), and Taylor et al. (2013) to support the strategies discussed.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1NURSING ASSIGNMENT
As has already been mentioned that the patient is a 10 year old child who has been
supposedly been victimized due to domestic abuse. The patient has been presented to the
emergency department by her mother who suspects that the child has been hurt by her
alcoholic father. On presentment, the patient seems to be scared, withdrawn and socially
withdrawn.
While conducting a mental health interview with the child, it is extremely important
that the nurse fosters a safe therapeutic environment which would encourage the patient to
open up about the traumatic incident. In addition to this, it is also important to consider the
tender age of the patient and understand that she is extremely vulnerable to the risks exposed
by life-stressors at her tender age of 10 years. According to First (2014), while conducting
interview with minors it is essential that nursing professionals make use of open-ended or
indirect questions. Research studies suggest that minors are able to express freely and provide
accurate information about a potential traumatic incident when they are freely narrating rather
than when they are expected to answer direct questions. As mentioned by Hunter.cuny.edu
(2019), it has been reported that open ended questions offers children the opportunity to
expand on their experience and convey the experience in a clear and comprehensive manner.
In addition to this, prior to beginning with the interview session, the nurse first greet and
introduce herself to Elizabeth and make her comfortable in her presence. The nurse should
also maintain Elizabeth’s confidentiality and prior to asking questions must ask her if there is
anything she would like to share and expect to be kept as a secret between her and the nurse.
In addition to this, the nurse must make use of an informal tone and use simple sentences so
that it is easier for Elizabeth to follow the questions and respond appropriately. In addition to
this, prior to the interview session, the nurse must assess Elizabeth’s developmental level and
accordingly frame questions that are suitable according to her age. The nurse should be
careful not to confuse between the chronological age and the development age of the patient.

2NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Research studies suggest that the chronological age is not always aligned to the
developmental age in children (MacKinnon et al., 2015; MacKinnon et al., 2013). This is
because the developmental age is affected by a number of elements that include, life stressors
and experience acquired in the process of exposure to the outside environment. Therefore,
before questioning the patient, the nurse must clearly assess the patient’s sense of time,
temperament as well as linguistic abilities. The nurse must make sure that the patient fluent in
English and is able to understand the questions. In addition to this, the nurse must also make
sure that the interview setting is vibrant and draws the attention of the child. Also, the nurse
must make use of cards, interactive games and crayons to make the child express freely. The
nurse can make use of guessing games, debate and pretend talk shows to gather appropriate
response from the child about the trauma she went through.

3NURSING ASSIGNMENT
References:
First, M. B. (2014). Structured clinical interview for the DSM (SCID). The encyclopedia of
clinical psychology, 1-6.
Hunter.cuny.edu (2019). [online] Hunter.cuny.edu. Available at:
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/downloads/Interviewing_Children_050
8.pdf [Accessed 4 Apr. 2019].
MacKinnon, R. A., Michels, R., & Buckley, P. J. (2015). The psychiatric interview in clinical
practice. American Psychiatric Pub.
Taylor, J., Bradbury‐Jones, C., Kroll, T., & Duncan, F. (2013). Health professionals’ beliefs
about domestic abuse and the issue of disclosure: a critical incident technique
study. Health & social care in the community, 21(5), 489-499.