Question

An infant is admitted to the intensive care unit with multiple injuries. when the adolescent mother sees her infant for the first time, she cries out, "i didn't mean to hurt her!" what should the nurse do first?

Answer 1

The nurse needs to note the outburst, and report it to her supervisor. Although this comment seems at the surface to be an admission of guilt, perhaps there are other unseen circumstances. For example, perhaps she is blaming herself for letting the child out of her sight, and the injuries were actually caused by another while the child was out of her vigilance.