After performing a physical examination on a 4-year-old patient, the nurse practitioner suspects physical abuse. The nurse practitioner's primary legal responsibility is to:

Rationale: A. Discussing suspected abuse with the caregivers could place the child at further risk and is not the first legal step. B. Reporting suspected abuse to child protective services (CPS) is the nurse practitioner’s primary legal responsibility. Mandatory reporting laws require healthcare providers to notify authorities when child abuse is suspected, regardless of certainty. C. Referring the family to support groups may be helpful later but does not fulfill the legal obligation to report. D. Assisting the family with resources and support is appropriate after reporting, but the immediate priority is to ensure the child’s safety through mandatory reporting.