A 9-year-old child presents to a school nurse with complaints of arm and leg pain. upon assessment, the nurse identifies numerou
s purple to yellow ecchymotic areas. when asked, the child says that the bruises are the result of "being in trouble at home." which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
The nurse should objectively document
her assessment that entails description of physical findings of abuse in the
medical record and she have a duty to report cases of actual or suspected abuse
in the child to the authorities. In addition, the nurse must also provide appropriate
treatment to the child like giving cold compress or pain reliever.