Child Protective Services--Reporting?

TazziRN, RN · Jul 5, 2007

If we are off the job we are not mandated by law, not in CA anyway, but if it ever came out that a nurse knew about abuse and didn't report it there could be some ugly times.

EmmaG, RN · Jul 5, 2007

http://www.smith-lawfirm.com/mandatory_reporting.htm#state%20statutes

a summary of the important features of statutes mandating persons to report child abuse and neglect. references to statutes, articles and resources in all 50 states.

interesting to note:

many states have broad statutes requiring "any person" to report.

sanctuary, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 5, 2007

I was told when the law was passed in Calif that we were obligated to report any suspected abuse, anywhere, any time. Matter of fact, most of the reports that I have made were not work related.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jul 5, 2007

I know that in a lot of states we are mandated reporters when on the job.
What about off the job?
What if we witness abuse or suspect abuse during off work hours? Of course, morally the right thing to do is to report but would we still be considered mandated reporters?
What do you all think? I don't think I've seen this addressed here before.

In Minnesota all licensed personnel are considered to be mandated reporters. I think that it would really be sticky for a nurse to fail to report suspected abuse or neglect in any jurisdiction.

when in doubt report.

Jo Dirt · Jul 5, 2007

Peope are too quick to say when in doubt report, but you need to realize the grief and consequences for families when you make that anonymous phone call. People will reason if it saves one child it's worth causing unecessary grief and suffering for innocent families but CPS can and does break apart families and basically ruin lives. I know an attorney who handles these cases and things I've heard are heartbreaking. Not everyone who has their children taken away deserves it and it is wrong to run to report it to CPS because of a hunch.

I personally know a man with two wives (not legally married of course). He keeps two separate households and it works for them. Not what I would be in favor of but it's their business. Between the two he has 17 children who are supported and taken care of and they are homeschooled. He faces constant harrassment by CPS which is just plain wrong.

We've had CPS called on us. Some (anonymous, of course) caller called in my license plate because they said I had my child in the store in nothing but a diaper and with bruises all over her legs. Two days later they showed up at the door. Yes, she had an accident in her clothes and had a blanket around her but try as they did to find it there was not a single mark on that baby. But we went for over a month with follow ups and gathering information they wanted. And for what?

I believe CPS does serve a purpose and can be beneficial, but people are too quick to take pot shots at other people they know nothing about.

Cattitude · Jul 6, 2007

Peope are too quick to say when in doubt report, but you need to realize the grief and consequences for families when you make that anonymous phone call. People will reason if it saves one child it's worth causing unecessary grief and suffering for innocent families but CPS can and does break apart families and basically ruin lives..

And this is my dilemma. I hear the Mom cursing at the kids. Calling them little f'ers and "you little a-hole" , stuff like that. I also heard the boy getting smacked in the hall once and crying, I don't know if she smacked him on the arm, leg or face as I didn't see it. It's still wrong.

I know she (the mom) is being abused by her B'friend and that's always a bad sign. Plus she's got her 2 kids and her and possible the guy also living in her friend's ONE bedroom apt!!!!! So that's THREE adults and TWO kids in a 1 bedroom!!! That's just yucky...

We live in a small building, she's going to narrow down who it is that called. It sucks but I don't want to have to worry about MY safety either. I don't know what to do. The other neighbors want to call but no one wants to be the one to actually do it.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 6, 2007

I was told in school that we are mandated reporters and that we are nurses 24 hours a day. Now if I were off duty, I would report it anonymously, especially if neighbors or family is involved, because reality is that we have to live amongest our neighbors and such situations can lead to them harassing us or our families.

I work home care on the weekends with a 5 year old pediatric client. I walked into a situation where the mother reported to me that while the child was in school during the week, that a classmate pushed up my client's dress and caressed her genitals. She is to be escorted to school by nurses from my agency 5 days a week, and she has 20 hours of daily nursing care. Just so happens that my client reported it to the night shift nurse while she was bathing her for school. The mother took off work, went to the school and reported the incident to the school authorities and they in turn contacted the mother of the offending child. The night shift nurse from my agency reported it to our day shift nurse. Now, I only work there on Saturdays and the mom reported it to me. I asked her if the agency was aware; she wasn't sure, so, I reported it to the agency that Monday. The RN was very grateful that I reported it (as well as added in my notes that there was no bruises or discharge or trauma noted in her genitals and the child did not seem to be traumatized by this situation), but wondered how was it that two other nurses did not report it. I was sort of pissed off because it should be reported. It is known that children are not always reliable witnesses, and the fact that the child made the association because a nurse was bathing her is scary because what if she were to turn around and say that one of the nurses did it? Of course, darn it, I reported it. An incident report was generated and at the moment, it will just remain with the agency unless something else occurs.

Reality for me is that if I am on the job, it will be reported. Off the job, it would be dealt with anonymously, because I do need to worry about my privacy and protection as well.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 6, 2007

And this is my dilemma. I hear the Mom cursing at the kids. Calling them little f'ers and "you little a-hole" , stuff like that. I also heard the boy getting smacked in the hall once and crying, I don't know if she smacked him on the arm, leg or face as I didn't see it. It's still wrong.
I know she (the mom) is being abused by her B'friend and that's always a bad sign. Plus she's got her 2 kids and her and possible the guy also living in her friend's ONE bedroom apt!!!!! So that's THREE adults and TWO kids in a 1 bedroom!!! That's just yucky...
We live in a small building, she's going to narrow down who it is that called. It sucks but I don't want to have to worry about MY safety either. I don't know what to do. The other neighbors want to call but no one wants to be the one to actually do it.

I would write down some of the dates and incidences and report it anonymously. Bottom line is the the children should not be abused. But, you have to be very discrete, because YES...you do have to continue to live among these people. And, I would call from a cell or a public phone so that it cannot be traced. You do NOT need trouble, either!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 6, 2007

Peope are too quick to say when in doubt report, but you need to realize the grief and consequences for families when you make that anonymous phone call. People will reason if it saves one child it's worth causing unecessary grief and suffering for innocent families but CPS can and does break apart families and basically ruin lives. I know an attorney who handles these cases and things I've heard are heartbreaking. Not everyone who has their children taken away deserves it and it is wrong to run to report it to CPS because of a hunch.
I personally know a man with two wives (not legally married of course). He keeps two separate households and it works for them. Not what I would be in favor of but it's their business. Between the two he has 17 children who are supported and taken care of and they are homeschooled. He faces constant harrassment by CPS which is just plain wrong.
We've had CPS called on us. Some (anonymous, of course) caller called in my license plate because they said I had my child in the store in nothing but a diaper and with bruises all over her legs. Two days later they showed up at the door. Yes, she had an accident in her clothes and had a blanket around her but try as they did to find it there was not a single mark on that baby. But we went for over a month with follow ups and gathering information they wanted. And for what?
I believe CPS does serve a purpose and can be beneficial, but people are too quick to take pot shots at other people they know nothing about.

I certainly agree with that statement, therefore, I think that a bit of observation should take place before an anonymous call is made. Some cultures believe in beatings and not all beatings are abuse; so to speak. What I am seeing here is the poster saying that things happen alot...I would probably do it, then. A hunch is not enough, for sure. But, if it is happening again and again, how do we live with ourselves, whether we are nurses or not if nothing is done? It is hard to make the decision.

Cattitude · Jul 6, 2007

I certainly agree with that statement, therefore, I think that a bit of observation should take place before an anonymous call is made. Some cultures believe in beatings and not all beatings are abuse; so to speak. What I am seeing here is the poster saying that things happen alot...I would probably do it, then. A hunch is not enough, for sure. But, if it is happening again and again, how do we live with ourselves, whether we are nurses or not if nothing is done? It is hard to make the decision.

All the neighbors have heard the verbal abuse. I alone, heard the smacks the one time. The kid screamed loud and she smacked him 3-4 times. I just don't know where on the body she hit him. I didn't see it. For all I know she hit the railing and he screamed. It sure sounded like smacking skin though.

I would of course call anonomously but I know that she would thibk it's one of the few neighbors. There's only 2-3 of us she would suspect. I don't want retaliation. However, I must also be able to live with myself. I think the verbal abuse alone warrants a call. This woman needs some help. I hope she gets it and they DON'T screw up her life. That's what worries me. I want them to get some help.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 6, 2007

In this case, where you hear signs of domestic violence, I think you should report it. It obviously bothers you. So sorry.