Child Abuse and Nursing Management

Vocabulary flashcards covering definition, causes, indicators, and nursing management of child abuse based on the lecture notes.

Child abuse

Any act of maltreatment of a child by a parent or guardian that results in injury or harm, or simply the physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment of children.

Physical abuse

The use of physical force that causes harm or injury, such as hitting, beating, burning, shaking, biting, or choking.

Emotional abuse

Also called psychological abuse or emotional injury; involves verbal threats, humiliation, rejection, isolation, insults, constantly criticizing, or belittling a child.

Sexual abuse

Any sexual activity with a child or non-consenting person, including touching, exposure to pornography, rape, and sexual exploitation.

Neglect

The failure to provide basic needs to a child, such as food, shelter, medical care, supervision, education, and love or attention.

Cycle of abuse

A phenomenon where parents who were abused in their own childhood repeat the same abusive behaviors because that is all they know.

Social isolation (in child abuse context)

The absence of a support system for parents, leaving them with no one to help, vent to, or learn from, which leads to increased stress and frustration.

Unrealistic expectations of a child's behavior

Expecting developmental capabilities beyond a child's maturity level—such as expecting a toddler to behave like an adult—leading to parent frustration and abuse.

Long-term psychological effects of child abuse

Long-term health and mental outcomes left behind by abuse, including depression, suicide risk, eating disorders, anxiety, anger, dissociation, and poor overall health.

Patterned burns

Burns that reproduce the shape of an object, such as cigarette burns, iron burns, electric stove burner marks, rope burns on wrists/ankles, or glove and stocking scald lines from forced immersion in hot water.

Indicators of neglect

Physical and observable signs such as a child being continually hungry, unsuitably dressed for the weather, or always dirty with poor hygiene, unwashed clothes, and body odor.

Immediate nursing care for child abuse

Emergency actions consisting of assessing Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs), treating life-threatening injuries, ensuring safety by removing the child from danger, managing pain, and dressing wounds.

Objective documentation

Legal recording of physical assessment details using factual language without opinions or accusations, including exact descriptions of injuries (size, shape, color, location, healing stage), direct quotes, body maps, date, time, and signature.

Mandatory reporting

The legal and ethical duty of nurses to report suspected child abuse to the ward in-charge, social worker, or Child Protection Services/Police according to hospital policy, even if proof is not yet established.

Therapeutic communication with a child

Communicating using simple, calm, non-judgmental language and open-ended, non-leading questions (e.g., 'Can you tell me what happened?') to encourage the child without suggesting answers.

Risk for Trauma

A key nursing diagnosis for child abuse related to being in an abusive environment.

Risk for Impaired Parenting

A key nursing diagnosis for child abuse related to a parent's lack of parenting skills or high stress levels.