A nurse in an urgent-care clinic is caring for a school-age child who has several visible bruises. The child's parent states, "My partner got fired today and came home angry. I don't think this will happen again." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A. "I agree with you. I'm sure this will never happen again." This response dismisses the seriousness of the situation and fails to assess the child's safety. Abuse often recurs, and the nurse must take all suspected cases seriously by gathering more information before making assumptions. B. "This is awful. You should file charges against your partner." While the situation is concerning, this response is judgmental and directive, which may make the parent defensive. The nurse’s role is to assess, support, and report suspected abuse, not to instruct the parent on legal action. C. "This is clearly child endangerment I will have to call the police." While the nurse has a legal obligation to report suspected child abuse, an immediate accusation may shut down communication. A more effective approach is to gather details while maintaining a nonjudgmental stance before escalating the situation to child protective services. D. "I'd like to know more about what happened. Let's sit and talk." This response is therapeutic and encourages open communication. It allows the nurse to assess the situation further, provide support, and determine the next steps while maintaining a nonthreatening approach.