A nurse is caring for a 10-year-old child with bruises and signs of neglect. Which actions should the nurse take to ensure the child's safety and well-being? (Select all that apply)
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A reason: Calling the teacher breaches confidentiality and isn’t the priority. Neglect and bruises suggest abuse, triggering stress responses like cortisol elevation. Scientifically, involving non-authorities risks escalating harm, as it doesn’t ensure legal protection or address the child’s immediate safety and psychological needs effectively. Choice B reason: Encouraging the child to talk fosters trust, aiding psychological assessment. Scientifically, verbalizing experiences reduces stress by engaging prefrontal cortex processing, mitigating trauma’s impact on amygdala-driven fear responses. This supports emotional regulation, helping identify abuse details and guide protective interventions for the child’s well-being. Choice C reason: Providing food and safety addresses immediate physical and psychological needs. Neglect can cause malnutrition, disrupting metabolic and cognitive function. Scientifically, a safe environment lowers cortisol, stabilizing stress responses. This ensures the child’s well-being, mitigating trauma’s neurobiological impact and supporting recovery from abuse-related harm. Choice D reason: Documenting and reporting to authorities ensures legal protection and investigation. Bruises and neglect indicate abuse, impacting stress hormones and mental health. Scientifically, reporting triggers interventions to prevent further trauma, addressing neurobiological stress responses and ensuring the child’s safety through structured protective measures.