New RN; Reporting to CPS

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2014

I've reported my fair share of families to CPS. I often feel bad for the kids who I know CPS will do nothing for. I have yet to feel sorry for the parents. I have felt sorry for the situation they are in, and sometimes understood it was a lack of education/intelligence that led to certain events. Just remind yourself you are here to advocate for the patient and sometimes living at home is not best. (I'll save my rant about the ineffectiveness of the CPS system for another day)

danggirl16 · Jun 24, 2014

In 19 years I've had to report four times...actually 2 kids and 2 elder abuse cases. I've always felt sad afterwards but I slept well knowing that I was doing the right thing for my patient and potentially saving a life. I think the sadness maybe comes from just knowing that a situation like that exists in life, that humanity can be so horrible... or being a mother and knowing that another "mother" can treat their kids that way or treat their parents that way. We had a case come into the ED, 8 month old in full arrest. After we stripped the poor little guy to run the code we noticed cigarette burns on his scrotum, bruises in various places. You can bet at some point this kid slipped through the system. In nursing you will see the very best and the very worst of what human beings have to offer. So feel good knowing you did the right thing and maybe prevented these kids from ending up beyond help.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jun 24, 2014

Know that you did the right thing. Kids in filth with a parent who refuses compliance are 2 major issues that need to be dealt with.

I am sure it made you sad. But the sadness may be coming from a place of feeling compassion for the kids.

The parents who are usually like this (meaning non-compliant) can and will manipulate the system as much as they can, putting their own needs in front of the kids. Still others really are cognitively impaired to the point of they really don't understand what they need to do or how to do it. Still others who get a sense of "well, Dr. (insert some famous MD here) from the TV says that I shouldn't be......" or even "The medical website that I looked at said...." These parents need education and support that sometimes, a care team can't seem to get a parent to adhere to a plan. That's ok, but then there needs to be an alternate plan. And that plan could involve CPS.

We are mandated reporters. And it would then be up to CPS to decide where to go from there.

SDALPN · Jun 24, 2014

Yep, I understand totally. Just recently found out the state took a child that I reported. Many reports had been made by others, so I acted as a mandatory reporter and thought nothing would happen. But my experience/observation for what I reported on was bad enough that they went to court and the child was taken away. I felt bad, but it was best for the child. I just heard the child is now gaining weight and starting to reach developmental goals. I even got to see a picture and that made it all worth it. The child looks so much better. So now I know I did the right thing even when it didn't feel good at the time.

I've reported other situations as well. Its never easy. I guess if you are in this job long enough, you will have to make a report at some point.

ventmommy · Jun 24, 2014

Well the good news is that you're in FL which has a long history of horrific incidences where CPS and DSS did not respond appropriately so there is a good chance that someone will actually do something for these kids.

Making a report doesn't necessarily mean that social workers and the police will swarm the place and place the children in foster homes, group homes or a hospital. Unless the children are in imminent danger or there is evidence of violence, starvation, etc., most likely the family preservation unit will assess the needs of the family and put supports in place. That may be helping them access welfare benefits, getting a company to clean the place, getting a home maker to help with chores, psych counseling, parenting classes, etc.

I'm pretty impressed that you reported it to your supervisor and he/she contacted CPS. I have seen other nurses here where the agencies do everything to discourage a CPS report.

As a paramedic, I have contacted both CPS and APS. It's never easy because you never know if the victim will go into a worse situation. But it's your license that you need to protect and your conscience that you need to live with. This is how I think about it. If there is a questionable living situation and I'm not sure about calling, I think 'If that child dies and there is an investigation, and this sentence applies - "dang, all the warning signs were there, I wish I hadn't been too afraid to call someone"' - then it's time to call CPS/APS.

ICUKeesh · Jun 25, 2014

Thank you all for your responses! I feel much better knowing I did the right thing and that it will be best for the children for the right authorities to intervene! I think my initial sadness came from worrying about the children, especially since I was a kid who was taken from my mother at the age of 7 and it was very hard to deal with but I knew it was best. Thank you all again :-)

Peoplesnur1070 · Aug 1, 2016

What exactly do you mean when you say "non compliant"?

caliotter3 · Aug 1, 2016

Non-compliant refers to any action or inaction which is in contravention of the plan of care as signed by the client's PCP. One example could be: parents that refuse to allow the nurses to administer one or more meds that have been prescribed; another example could be parents who tell the physician lies about following the care plan and threaten the nurses to have the nurses keep quiet when at appointments or who refuse to allow the nurses to accompany on trips to the PCP appointments. Parents who refuse to pick up meds from the pharmacy, so that there is a disruption in the continuity of meds, causing medical problems. Parents who do not provide enough or the right kind of food, don't pay the utility bills, so that electricity or water are turned off, etc. Anything that has adverse effects on the patient.