Possibly Abused Young Girl

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I don't need advice I just need to get this out. Any comments you would have are appreciated.

I worked this w/e in the ER and I had a 17 yr old girl come in w/ c/o abd. pain CTneg labs showed she had a UTI. The dad was w/ her real creepy looking guy his eyes pierced right through you and the daughter was very uneasy around him clammed up biting on her nails and she would only sort of open up when he left the room. Every nurse that went in that room felt uneasy about him. Anyways after the CT was neg she was going to have a pelvic because she admitted to the doc when the dad was absent that she was sexually active so she was going to be tested for STD's. She had one of peds woman docs do the procedure because she did not feel comfortable w/ the ER doc doing it. I went in to check on her and took in some supplies for the exam when I was leaving the room the dad said to her "Okay here's what we are going to do." I felt very disturbed by this comment and told the ER doc and he said well maybe he's talking to her about the procedure being done. I took it as this dad is trying to hide something. There was just an uneasy feeling in the room and I felt like I couldn't get away from this man fast enough. I called our SS dept this AM because I was locked out of my email so I couldn't send her a note and I told her what I overheard. She said that this AM she also got an anonamous note from a friend that said this girl was also contemplating suicide and that she would go talk to her. While I was on the phone w/ her she got a page from the nurse caring for her today to go the med floor ASAP. SS said she would keep me updated.

This girl and that comment haunted me all w/e and I just needed somewhere to get this out so thanks for listening. I'm not sure if I overreacted to this comment but I would rather have it looked into than have this poor girl be abused any further if that is the case. Please just say a prayer for this girl and her safety.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

It is really hard to say if you overreacted or not because I was not there. But if your gut was telling you something, then I think you did the right thing. You weren't accusing him necessarily...you just suspected something and you did the right thing. Furthermore, you were able to add more to the picture to the SW. It appears that other staff heard things as well. I think you and the staff did do the right thing because had someone not said anything, then the picture may not be as clear.

Right now I don't think I am saying this as clearly as I want to...but I just woke up. J

Good job acting as a swift advocate for this girl. A prayer has definitely been said.

Take care!

~Psych

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I don't need advice I just need to get this out. Any comments you would have are appreciated.

I worked this w/e in the ER and I had a 17 yr old girl come in w/ c/o abd. pain CTneg labs showed she had a UTI. The dad was w/ her real creepy looking guy his eyes pierced right through you and the daughter was very uneasy around him clammed up biting on her nails and she would only sort of open up when he left the room. Every nurse that went in that room felt uneasy about him. Anyways after the CT was neg she was going to have a pelvic because she admitted to the doc when the dad was absent that she was sexually active so she was going to be tested for STD's. She had one of peds woman docs do the procedure because she did not feel comfortable w/ the ER doc doing it. I went in to check on her and took in some supplies for the exam when I was leaving the room the dad said to her "Okay here's what we are going to do." I felt very disturbed by this comment and told the ER doc and he said well maybe he's talking to her about the procedure being done. I took it as this dad is trying to hide something. There was just an uneasy feeling in the room and I felt like I couldn't get away from this man fast enough. I called our SS dept this AM because I was locked out of my email so I couldn't send her a note and I told her what I overheard. She said that this AM she also got an anonamous note from a friend that said this girl was also contemplating suicide and that she would go talk to her. While I was on the phone w/ her she got a page from the nurse caring for her today to go the med floor ASAP. SS said she would keep me updated.

This girl and that comment haunted me all w/e and I just needed somewhere to get this out so thanks for listening. I'm not sure if I overreacted to this comment but I would rather have it looked into than have this poor girl be abused any further if that is the case. Please just say a prayer for this girl and her safety.

Trust your gut feeling on this one - it sounds like things weren't right.

Where was the mom? Glad you called SS on this one - I've done that many times myself - and seems like the medsurg RN may have picked up on something too.

It's heartbreaking but at least the health professionals at the hospital can do something about it when we have reason to suspect abuse.:(

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

You did the right thing... ALWAYS trust your gut... I hope she will be Ok in the long run. Prayers have been said.

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Specializes in obstetrics(high risk antepartum, L/D,etc.

I would rather overreact a hundred times than not act and be wrong. You may have saved her from this, and at least someone cares about her. :redbeathe Doesn't sound like the "dad"does:(:madface:

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I truly hope the girl is safe. That dad sounds like he's major league creepy.

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Prayers for this girl and for you.

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

what eventually got her admitted?

perhaps the MD thought there was "more than met the eye" as well?

dood for you for being such a good advocate!!

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, ICU.

Way to go for following through. You'd be surprised how accurate our gut feelings really are. I hope that she isn't being abused by her father, but something sounds not quite right. Nurses are in such a great place to be able to help others, not only you, but a friend and another nurse picked up on something with this girl that the rest of the people she comes in contact with daily apparently didn't...

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

She was admitted for the UTI and abd pain, she very well could have been treated at home for this but the abd pain was really painful for her so they kept her. I think it's maybe her way of getting to a safe place.

Thanks to all who have responded and for saying a prayer for this young girl.

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Specializes in Me Surge.

let us know what happens.

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Specializes in med-surg.

:nurse:You did the right thing! The whole situation just sounds really weird:yeah:

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