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dc.contributor.authorKeane, C.
dc.contributor.authorChapman, Rose
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T13:31:42Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T13:31:42Z
dc.date.created2009-03-04T18:01:45Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.identifier.citationKeane, Carolyn and Chapman, Rose. 2008. Evaluating nurses' knowledge and skills in the detection of child abuse in the Emergency Department. International Emergency Nursing. 16: pp. 5-13.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/32572
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ienj.2007.11.006
dc.description.abstract

This commentary paper highlights the issue of child abuse and the important role that nursing staff working in the Emergency Department (ED) can play in halting the cycle of abuse. Child abuse is a worldwide problem that is occurring with increasing frequency. In fact in Australia over the last 5 years the number of child protection referrals has more than doubled. As well as the immediate physical damage child abuse causes, it can also escalate to result in more serious injury and death. Furthermore, children who are abused in their early years of life are at increased risk of a range of adverse long-term developmental problems. Research has demonstrated that there is a significant lack of detection of suspected cases of child abuse in the ED. In fact the true incidence of children presenting to hospital EDs with abuse is difficult to determine, and many cases remain undetected. Nursing staff are perfectly positioned to detect the signs that a child may be at risk of abuse. However, in order to identify these signs it is essential that ED nurses have the knowledge and skills necessary to do so. Failure to consider the possibility of abuse will mean that the appropriate diagnosis is not made and the child is returned to an abusive environment. Therefore, this paper offers ED nurses recommendations for future directions in research and interventions to improve the detection of child abuse in Western Australia.

dc.publisherElsevier
dc.subjectdetection
dc.subjectintervention
dc.subjectChild abuse
dc.subjectemergency department
dc.subjecteducation
dc.titleEvaluating nurses' knowledge and skills in the detection of child abuse in the Emergency Department
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume16
dcterms.source.startPage5
dcterms.source.endPage13
dcterms.source.issn1755599X
dcterms.source.titleInternational Emergency Nursing
curtin.note

Copyright © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

curtin.note

A link to the journal's website is available at: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/714557/description#description

curtin.accessStatusOpen access
curtin.facultyHealth Sciences
curtin.facultySchool of Nursing and Midwifery


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