Recognizing and Responding to Child Abuse in Nursing Practice

Child abuse remains a critical public health issue with complex clinical, ethical, and legal dimensions. Nurses are often the first to recognize signs of maltreatment and play a pivotal role in ensuring child safety. This course explores the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and evaluation of various forms of child abuse, including physical abuse, neglect, abusive head trauma, and medical child abuse (formerly Munchausen syndrome by proxy). Learners will review distinguishing features, differential diagnoses, documentation practices, and mandated reporting responsibilities. Emphasis is placed on a trauma-informed approach, multidisciplinary collaboration, and understanding the emotional and professional impact of working with vulnerable pediatric populations.

Note: This course is currently not approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing for the Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting requirement