Nursing Management and Leadership: Mandated Reporter Scenario Report

This report examines the role and responsibilities of a mandated reporter, specifically within a nursing context, focusing on the legal and ethical obligations to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The report begins with an introduction defining mandated reporters and their significance in protecting vulnerable populations. It details the responsibilities of mandated reporters, emphasizing the need to report suspected abuse and the potential consequences of failing to do so. The report outlines the steps involved in reporting mandated issues, highlighting the importance of recognizing different forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and the role of reasonable suspicion in initiating a report. The core of the report presents a scenario where a child with unexplained bruises is brought to the emergency department, prompting the mandated reporter to take action. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of reporting the incident. The references include childwelfare.gov and oag.ca.gov, which are used to support the information presented in the report.

Running head: NURSING MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
MANDATED REPORTER SCENARIO
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1MANDATED REPORTER SCENARIO
Introduction
A mandated reporter is somebody who is required to report any abuse or suspicious
activity that leads to abuse. It is the requirement established by the States to report any known
behavior that leads to child abuse or neglect. These laws were implemented to prevent
children from being abused or being neglected at an early age. The major mandated reporter
is those who work closely with the vulnerable population. These reporters usually include
social workers, childcare educators or professionals, healthcare professionals such as nursing
and other institute professionals (childwelfare.gov, 2019). This paper intends to examine the
responsibility of mandated reporter and their responses in any mandated issues.
Responsibility of mandated reporter
They need to prepare a report of the suspected abuse or any neglect towards the child.
They are responsible for the welfare of the child and need to connect with the agency or any
other factor that focuses on children. It is not always necessary that a child will report or file
a complaint, the mandated reporter should proactively understand as well as analyze the
situation. It is very crucial to report the mandated scenario and failure in reporting can be
considered as an offense. The mandated reporter can be punished for failing to report for six
months in jail or fine up to $ 1,000 (oag.ca.gov, 2020).
Steps in reporting mandated reporter issue
The major part is to understand what needs to be reported. There can be multiple
issues such as physical abuse or emotional abuse. A child being neglected or sexually abused
can also be reported. It is also important to understand that a mandated reporter does not need
any proof or evidence to make the report and therefore, reasonable suspicion is the major
factor while making the report of the child.

2MANDATED REPORTER SCENARIO
According to oag.ca.gov (2020), the report can be done by phone that means
immediately calling up the welfare service of the child or sheriff’s department and report the
incident. It can also be done in writing, the writing report should be done within the time
frame of 36 hours and it can be sent via fax or need to be submitted electronically.
Scenarios of Mandated Reporter
Seven years old Oliver comes with his mother in the emergency department; he has
bruises in the face. In the further, examine the healthcare professionals have found bruises in
the legs, his mother told her she was not aware of the bruise mark in the leg. She has
explained that he went out to play with his friends and came home with bruises all over his
face. Oliver was silent and spoke nothing.
Responding to the Scenario
In this scenario, Oliver does not tell anything about the incident and therefore, it is
important to report such incidents. He was abused physically and thus, there should be a
written report regarding the incident. The injury was in multiple areas of the body and it
cannot be considered as an accident.

3MANDATED REPORTER SCENARIO
References
childwelfare.gov. (2019). Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect (pp. 1-68).
childwelfare.gov. Retrieved 13 February 2020, from
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/manda.pdf.
childwelfare.gov. (2020). Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect - Child Welfare
Information Gateway. Childwelfare.gov. Retrieved 13 February 2020, from
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/manda/
oag.ca.gov. (2020). SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE REPORT (pp. 1-2). oag.ca.gov. Retrieved
13 February 2020, from
https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/childabuse/ss_8572.pdf