Barriers that inhibit nurses reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect

Abstract

Objective: An integrative review of the literature was undertaken to identify barriers that inhibit nurses from reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

Primary Argument: Nurses in all states and territories of Australia except Western Australia are legally required to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect to relevant child protection services. Nurses often have first contact with abused children, yet they do not make the top five list of people who notify. There is limited evidence on what motivates the reporting process and it appears that while nurses are in a key position to report suspected cases of abuse, barriers may exist that hinder this process. These barriers must be identified and addressed.

Findings: Limited education on recognising signs and symptoms of abuse was found to be a major barrier to reporting. Other barriers include limited experience, poor documentation, low opinion of child protection services, fear of perceived consequences, and lack of emotional support for nurses through the reporting process.

Conclusion: Although nurses are mandatory notifiers; that is, they are required by law to report child abuse and neglect, education in this area is not compulsory. While most Australian nursing degrees provide some content on child abuse and neglect, this is not a legal requirement nor is the content standardised. The introduction of compulsory mandatory reporting education should be considered for all undergraduate and post graduate nurses. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of mandatory reporting education on outcomes and to reduce identified barriers to reporting. This in turn may offer greater protection for children, the most vulnerable members of society.