Workplace experiences of nurses in their role as child abuse and neglect mandated reporters

Background

Nurses are mandated to report child abuse and neglect (CAN) cases; however, nurses may not be fully trained and supported in this role. Creating a workplace environment that actively engages and supports nurses is crucial for optimizing their effectiveness in fulfilling their reporting responsibilities.

Objective

This study explored the experiences of nurses reporting child abuse and neglect in the workplace and highlighted the barriers and facilitators of nurses in this role. Participants and Setting: Recruitment took place primarily in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This study reports on the qualitative responses provided by a subset (34–47 %) of the 166 respondents to the parent online survey.

Methods

Nurses responded to three prompts: 1) what went well, 2) what did not go well, and 3) what would support them in the role as mandated reporters. A reflexive thematic analysis was chosen to offer rich interpretation of meaning, in-depth understanding, and patterned meaning of responses.

Findings

Of 166 respondents, 25 % (n = 42) answered the three questions. The themes and subthemes captured conceptual patterns of meaning on how to support nurses in the workplace as mandated reporters. Central organizing concepts included interprofessional collaboration, transparent protocols, responsive child welfare services, ongoing CAN education, and acknowledgment of the nurse-patient relationship.

Conclusions

This study offered insights into the workplace experiences of nurses acting as CAN mandated reporters. These barriers and facilitators can be addressed to produce better prepared and confident CAN nurse reporters.