Evaluating nurses' knowledge and skills in the detection of child abuse in the Emergency Department

Journal article


Keane, Carolyn and Chapman, Rosemary. (2008). Evaluating nurses' knowledge and skills in the detection of child abuse in the Emergency Department. International Emergency Nursing. 16(1), pp. 5 - 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2007.11.006
AuthorsKeane, Carolyn and Chapman, Rosemary
Abstract

This commentary paper highlights the issue of child abuse and the important role that nursing staff working in the Emergency Department (ED) can play in halting the cycle of abuse. Child abuse is a worldwide problem that is occurring with increasing frequency. In fact, in Australia over the last 5 years the number of child protection referrals has more than doubled. As well as the immediate physical damage child abuse causes, it can also escalate to result in more serious injury and death. Furthermore, children who are abused in their early years of life are at increased risk of a range of adverse long-term developmental problems. Research has demonstrated that there is a significant lack of detection of suspected cases of child abuse in the ED. In fact the true incidence of children presenting to hospital EDs with abuse is difficult to determine, and many cases remain undetected. Nursing staff are perfectly positioned to detect the signs that a child may be at risk of abuse. However, in order to identify these signs it is essential that ED nurses have the knowledge and skills necessary to do so. Failure to consider the possibility of abuse will mean that the appropriate diagnosis is not made and the child is returned to an abusive environment. Therefore, this paper offers ED nurses recommendations for future directions in research and interventions to improve the detection of child abuse in Western Australia.

Keywordschild abuse; emergency department; intervention; detection; education
Year2008
JournalInternational Emergency Nursing
Journal citation16 (1), pp. 5 - 13
PublisherElsevier Science
ISSN1755-599X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2007.11.006
Page range5 - 13
Research GroupSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8q54y/evaluating-nurses-knowledge-and-skills-in-the-detection-of-child-abuse-in-the-emergency-department

  • 82
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 5
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Registered nurse buddies: educators by proxy?
Rebeiro, Geraldine, Evans, Alicia, Edward, Karen-Leigh and Chapman, Rose. (2017). Registered nurse buddies: educators by proxy? Nurse Education Today. 55, pp. 1 - 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2017.04.019
Impact of teamwork on missed care in four Australian hospitals
Chapman, Rose, Rahman, Asheq, Courtney, Mary and Chalmers, Cheyne. (2017). Impact of teamwork on missed care in four Australian hospitals. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 26(1-2), pp. 170 - 181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13433
An exploration of Indonesian nurses' perceptions of barriers to paediatric pain management
Mediani, Henny Suzana, Duggan, Ravani, Chapman, Rose, Hutton, Alison and Shields, Linda. (2017). An exploration of Indonesian nurses' perceptions of barriers to paediatric pain management. Journal of Child Health Care. 21(3), pp. 273 - 282. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367493517715146
Australian nurses' perceptions of the use of manual restraint in the Emergency Department: A qualitative perspective
Chapman, Rosemary, Ogle, Kaye Robyn, Martin, Catherine Ann, Rahman, Asheq, McKenna, Brian Grant and Barnfield, Jakqui. (2016). Australian nurses' perceptions of the use of manual restraint in the Emergency Department: A qualitative perspective. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13159
Sex differences in in-hospital mortality following a first acute myocardial infarction: Symptomatology, delayed presentation, and hospital setting
Mnatzaganian, George, Braitberg, George, Hiller, Janet E., Kuhn, Lisa and Chapman, Rose. (2016). Sex differences in in-hospital mortality following a first acute myocardial infarction: Symptomatology, delayed presentation, and hospital setting. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. 16(109), pp. 1 - 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-016-0276-5
Interpersonal relationships between registered nurses and student nurses in the clinical setting - A systematic integrative review
Rebeiro, Geraldine, Edward, Karen-Leigh, Chapman, Rose and Evans, Alicia. (2015). Interpersonal relationships between registered nurses and student nurses in the clinical setting - A systematic integrative review. Nurse Education Today. 35, pp. 1206 - 1211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2015.06.012
A retrospective descriptive study of the characteristics of deliberate self-poisoning patients with single or repeat presentations to an Australian emergency medicine network in a one year period
Martin, Catherine A., Chapman, Rose, Rahman, Asheq and Graundins, Andis. (2014). A retrospective descriptive study of the characteristics of deliberate self-poisoning patients with single or repeat presentations to an Australian emergency medicine network in a one year period. BMC Emergency Medicine. 14(1), pp. 1 - 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-227X-14-21
Perceptions of Australian emergency staff towards patients presenting with deliberate self-poisoning: A qualitative perspective
Chapman, Rose and Martin, Catherine. (2014). Perceptions of Australian emergency staff towards patients presenting with deliberate self-poisoning: A qualitative perspective. International Emergency Nursing. 22(3), pp. 140 - 145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2014.03.002
A mixed method study to determine the attitude of Australian emergency health professionals towards patients who present with deliberate self-poisoning
Martin, Catherine and Chapman, Rose. (2014). A mixed method study to determine the attitude of Australian emergency health professionals towards patients who present with deliberate self-poisoning. International Emergency Nursing. 22(2), pp. 98 - 104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2013.09.002
Qualitative exploration of the perceived barriers and enablers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing healthcare through one Victorian Emergency Department
Chapman, Rosemary, Smith, Tammy and Martin, Catherine. (2014). Qualitative exploration of the perceived barriers and enablers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing healthcare through one Victorian Emergency Department. Contemporary Nurse. 48(1), pp. 48 - 58. https://doi.org/10.1080/10376178.2014.11081926
A retrospective descriptive study of the characteristics of deliberate self-poisoning patients with single or repeat presentations to an Australian emergency medicine network in a one year period
Martin, Catherine, Chapman, Rosemary, Rahman, Asheq and Graudins, Andis. (2014). A retrospective descriptive study of the characteristics of deliberate self-poisoning patients with single or repeat presentations to an Australian emergency medicine network in a one year period. BMC Emergency Medicine. 14(21), pp. 1 - 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-227X-14-21
Deliberate Self-Poisoning Presenting to an Emergency Medicine Network in South-East Melbourne : A Descriptive Study
Rahman, Asheq, Martin, Catherine, Graudins, Andis and Chapman, Rosemary. (2014). Deliberate Self-Poisoning Presenting to an Emergency Medicine Network in South-East Melbourne : A Descriptive Study. Emergency Medicine International. 2014, pp. 1 - 7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/461841
Australian Emergency Department health professionals' reasons to invite or not invite Family Witnessed Resuscitation: A qualitative perspective
Chapman, Rose, Bushby, Angela, Watkins, Rochelle and Combs, Shane. (2014). Australian Emergency Department health professionals' reasons to invite or not invite Family Witnessed Resuscitation: A qualitative perspective. International Emergency Nursing. 22(1), pp. 18 - 24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2013.03.008
Evaluation of staff cultural awareness before and after attending cultural awareness training in an Australian emergency department
Chapman, Rose, Martin, Cathy and Smith, Tammy. (2014). Evaluation of staff cultural awareness before and after attending cultural awareness training in an Australian emergency department. International Emergency Nursing. 22(4), pp. 179 - 184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2013.11.001
The PICHFORK (Pain InCHildren Fentanyl OR Ketamine) trial comparing the efficacy of intranasal ketamine and fentanyl in the relief of moderate to severe pain in children with limb injuries : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Graudins, Andis, Meek, Robert, Egerton-Warburton, Diana, Seith, Robert, Furness, Trentham and Chapman, Rosemary. (2013). The PICHFORK (Pain InCHildren Fentanyl OR Ketamine) trial comparing the efficacy of intranasal ketamine and fentanyl in the relief of moderate to severe pain in children with limb injuries : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-14-208
Assessing Health Professionals' perception of family presence during resuscitation : a replication study
Chapman, Rosemary, Watkins, Rochelle, Bushby, Angela and Combs, Shane. (2013). Assessing Health Professionals' perception of family presence during resuscitation : a replication study. International Emergency Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2011.10.003
Characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presentations to three Victorian emergency departments
Martin, Catherine, Smith, Tammy, Graudins, Andis, Braitberg, George and Chapman, Rosemary. (2013). Characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presentations to three Victorian emergency departments. Emergency Medicine Australasia. https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.12152
Tertiary paediatric hospital health professionals' attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children
Nicol, P, Chapman, Rosemary, Watkins, Rochelle, Young, Jeanine and Shields, Linda. (2013). Tertiary paediatric hospital health professionals' attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12372
Second-level hospital health professionals' attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health for their children
Chapman, Rose, Watkins, Rochelle, Zappia, Tess, Combs, Shane and Shields, Linda. (2012). Second-level hospital health professionals' attitudes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health for their children. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 21(5-6), pp. 880 - 887. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03938.x
The experiences of Australian lesbian couples becoming parents : Deciding, searching and birthing
Chapman, Rosemary, Wardrop, Joan, Zappia, Tess, Watkins, Rochelle and Shields, Linda. (2012). The experiences of Australian lesbian couples becoming parents : Deciding, searching and birthing. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 21(13-14), pp. 1878 - 1885. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.04007.x
A descriptive study of the experiences of lesbian, gay and transgender parents accessing health services for their children
Chapman, Rose, Wardrop, Joan, Freeman, Phoenix, Zappia, Tess, Watkins, Rochelle and Shields, Linda. (2012). A descriptive study of the experiences of lesbian, gay and transgender parents accessing health services for their children. Journal of Clinical Nursing (online version). 21(7-8), pp. 1128 - 1135. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03939.x
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Parents Seeking Health Care for Their Children : A Systematic Review of the Literature
Shields, Linda, Zappia, Tess, Blackwood, Diana, Watkins, Rochelle, Wardrop, Joan and Chapman, Rosemary. (2012). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Parents Seeking Health Care for Their Children : A Systematic Review of the Literature. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing. 9(4), pp. 200 - 209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6787.2012.00251.x
Nursing and medical students' attitude, knowledge and beliefs regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children
Chapman, Rosemary, Watkins, Rochelle, Zappia, Tess, Nicol, Pam and Shields, Linda. (2012). Nursing and medical students' attitude, knowledge and beliefs regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents seeking health care for their children. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 21(7-8), pp. 938 - 945. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03892.x
Nurses' experience of adjusting to workplace violence : A theory of adaptation
Chapman, Rosemary, Styles, Irene, Perry, Laura and Combs, Shane. (2010). Nurses' experience of adjusting to workplace violence : A theory of adaptation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 19(3), pp. 186 - 194. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0349.2009.00663.x
Examining the characteristics of workplace violence in one non-tertiary hospital
Chapman, Rosemary, Styles, Irene, Perry, Laura and Combs, Shane. (2010). Examining the characteristics of workplace violence in one non-tertiary hospital. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 19(3-4), pp. 479 - 488. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02952.x
Consequences of workplace violence directed at nurses
Chapman, Rose, Perry, Laura, Styles, Irene and Combs, Shane. (2009). Consequences of workplace violence directed at nurses. British Journal of Nursing. 18(20), pp. 1256 - 1261.