Child Abuse & Neglect Review

A series of question-and-answer flashcards based on notes about child abuse and neglect, designed to help reinforce key concepts for exam preparation.

What are the two main types of child maltreatment?

Acts of commission (abuse) and acts of omission (neglect).

What is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?

A condition where a caregiver induces or fabricates illness in a child for attention or sympathy.

What are common symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome?

Seizures, vomiting, and bulging fontanel without external trauma.

What is the primary nursing priority when abuse is suspected?

Ensure the child's immediate safety.

What characterizes child neglect?

Failure to meet a child’s basic physical, emotional, medical, or educational needs.

What constitutes emotional abuse?

Pattern of behavior that harms a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth without physical injury.

What is the main distinction of sexual abuse in children compared to other forms?

It often has no physical findings and is primarily identified through disclosure.

Explain Non-Organic Failure to Thrive.

Poor growth without medical cause, often linked to neglect and improved growth in structured environments.

What are the five prioritized nursing interventions when child abuse is suspected?

1. Ensure immediate safety, 2. Document objectively, 3. Report suspected abuse, 4. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, 5. Avoid confrontation.

What is a hallmark indicator of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?

Child symptoms only present in caregiver's presence; child improves when separated from caregiver.

Describe the characteristics of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Severe neurologic injury from shaking, often without visible signs of external trauma.

State three nursing priorities for all types of child abuse.

1. Ensure the safety of the child, 2. Document findings objectively and thoroughly, 3. Report any suspected abuse immediately.

What makes emotional abuse distinct from other types of abuse?

It often does not result in physical injury but results in significant behavioral changes like fear or withdrawal.

When is reporting of suspected child abuse mandatory?

Whenever there is a reasonable suspicion of abuse, regardless of proof.

What is the most common form of child maltreatment?

Child neglect.

What are the common red flags for identifying child neglect?

Poor hygiene, untreated medical problems, malnutrition, and frequent absences from school.

What is a critical response when a child discloses sexual abuse?

The nurse must report the disclosure immediately without doubt.

How does a nurse document suspected abuse?

Document objective findings and avoid personal judgments or opinions.

Identify key indicators that suggest physical abuse in children.

Injuries or bruises on soft tissues, unusual patterns or stages of healing.

What constitutes a safe nursing response when emotional abuse is suspected?

Ensure the child's immediate safety and provide emotional support.

What is the role of the nurse regarding investigations in suspected cases of abuse?

Nurses do NOT investigate, they report and document findings.

Describe the association between poverty and child neglect.

Child neglect often coexists with poverty, caregiver mental illness, or substance use, indicating unmet needs.

When suspecting shaking trauma, what is a red flag in the child's condition?

A neurologic symptom in an infant with an inconsistent history of causation.