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.": Offering reassurance minimizes the seriousness of the situation and fails to address the child’s immediate safety. It also discourages further disclosure by the parent. B. "This is awful. You should file charges against your partner.": Advising the parent to press charges is premature and judgmental. The nurse’s role is to assess, support, and report—not to instruct the parent on legal action. C. "This is clearly child endangerment. I will have to call the police.": While mandatory reporting is required when abuse is suspected, immediately stating this may shut down communication and limit the nurse’s ability to gather essential information for an accurate report. D. "I'd like to know more about what happened. Let's sit and talk.": This response is therapeutic and nonjudgmental. It invites open discussion, helps the nurse assess the extent of possible abuse, and ensures accurate documentation before proceeding with mandatory reporting procedures.