Nursing is a noble profession in which rights and ethics are inseparable aspects. International Council of Nurses (2015) defined nursing as a self-governing and combined care of all kinds of people regardless of their age, gender, communities, illness or health and in all environments. Nursing incorporates the health promotion, prevention of disease, and care of the sick, disabled and people with chronic conditions. The key roles of nursing are advocacy, enhancement of a safe and sound environment, exploration, involvement in determining health policies and health education.
As a nurse, there are lots of roles and responsibilities among which protecting patients’ rights is a crucial one. Nurses are constantly looking after the patients so; nurses are responsible to protect them from any kinds of risk or harm and keep them safe. Among the eight nursing code of ethics listed in Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2008), number 6 focuses on the safety in health care where it is mentioned that nurses should act in the control and prevention of risks. Nurses are also responsible in reporting such hostile events for which there are certain procedures. Standard 1.3 and Standard 2.4 of the National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse emphasizes on the safe practices, rights of the patients and the needs for advocacy if required (NSW Nurses & Midwives Association 2013). During clinical practices, nurses come across different cases and incidents in which the patient might be suffering from some kind of abuse and in need of physical, emotional or legal help. So, as it is the responsibility of a nurse to protect the patient from any kind of harm, she should report the abuse and help him or her in any possible way. Abuse is an act of causing harm or injuries and violating the rights of a person by another person or a group of people intentionally. Physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, neglect, institutional abuse are the different types of abuse (www.devon.gov.uk. 2016). The cases of child abuse, elderly abuse and domestic violence are seen and heard frequently. So, in this writing I am going to discuss about child abuse and its process of reporting. A child is abused when he/she is physically, psychologically or sexually harmed once, twice or repeatedly. If a child is neglected from his rights to safety, health and wellbeing then it is also called child abuse. Child abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual and family violence. If a child is punched, hit, burned or anything physical then it is physical abuse. If a child is treated in a way that makes him scared, willing to stay depressed and alone then it is emotional abuse. If someone forces a child to get involved in sexual activity, get them into prostitution then it comes under sexual abuse. If there is violence in a child’s family …show more content…
If mandated notifiers suspect or find out any case of child abuse then, they are legally obliged to report about it. To report abuse, the regional child protection office should be contacted without any delay. The right Intake Unit phone number should be called and as they will ask for the information, child’s details should be given; name, age, address, signs of injury or harm, reason for making report, situation and location of the child at that very time, address of the alleged abuser, family’s information, and specific characteristics if any. Sometimes, the details of a victimized child may not be known yet the report can be made and reporter’s identity will not be disclosed without his or her consent (BetterHealth …show more content…
Beyond much efforts made by various child welfare organizations it is becoming difficult to rule out. Nurses and other health care workers face the case of child abuse on a daily basis. They are the mandatory persons for reporting. So nurses can take some actions about this like trainings can be conducted on child abuse, networks to different organizations that work for children can be built, nurses should emphasize on the inclusion of child abuse in the courses of health students at all levels and also in the course of school level students. Nurses in collaboration with schoolteacher, different governmental and non-governmental organization can conduct awareness programs in schools and community. Likewise, nurses can also participate in developing protocols related to child
As a nurse, there are lots of roles and responsibilities among which protecting patients’ rights is a crucial one. Nurses are constantly looking after the patients so; nurses are responsible to protect them from any kinds of risk or harm and keep them safe. Among the eight nursing code of ethics listed in Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2008), number 6 focuses on the safety in health care where it is mentioned that nurses should act in the control and prevention of risks. Nurses are also responsible in reporting such hostile events for which there are certain procedures. Standard 1.3 and Standard 2.4 of the National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse emphasizes on the safe practices, rights of the patients and the needs for advocacy if required (NSW Nurses & Midwives Association 2013). During clinical practices, nurses come across different cases and incidents in which the patient might be suffering from some kind of abuse and in need of physical, emotional or legal help. So, as it is the responsibility of a nurse to protect the patient from any kind of harm, she should report the abuse and help him or her in any possible way. Abuse is an act of causing harm or injuries and violating the rights of a person by another person or a group of people intentionally. Physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, neglect, institutional abuse are the different types of abuse (www.devon.gov.uk. 2016). The cases of child abuse, elderly abuse and domestic violence are seen and heard frequently. So, in this writing I am going to discuss about child abuse and its process of reporting. A child is abused when he/she is physically, psychologically or sexually harmed once, twice or repeatedly. If a child is neglected from his rights to safety, health and wellbeing then it is also called child abuse. Child abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual and family violence. If a child is punched, hit, burned or anything physical then it is physical abuse. If a child is treated in a way that makes him scared, willing to stay depressed and alone then it is emotional abuse. If someone forces a child to get involved in sexual activity, get them into prostitution then it comes under sexual abuse. If there is violence in a child’s family …show more content…
If mandated notifiers suspect or find out any case of child abuse then, they are legally obliged to report about it. To report abuse, the regional child protection office should be contacted without any delay. The right Intake Unit phone number should be called and as they will ask for the information, child’s details should be given; name, age, address, signs of injury or harm, reason for making report, situation and location of the child at that very time, address of the alleged abuser, family’s information, and specific characteristics if any. Sometimes, the details of a victimized child may not be known yet the report can be made and reporter’s identity will not be disclosed without his or her consent (BetterHealth …show more content…
Beyond much efforts made by various child welfare organizations it is becoming difficult to rule out. Nurses and other health care workers face the case of child abuse on a daily basis. They are the mandatory persons for reporting. So nurses can take some actions about this like trainings can be conducted on child abuse, networks to different organizations that work for children can be built, nurses should emphasize on the inclusion of child abuse in the courses of health students at all levels and also in the course of school level students. Nurses in collaboration with schoolteacher, different governmental and non-governmental organization can conduct awareness programs in schools and community. Likewise, nurses can also participate in developing protocols related to child