Dealing with abuse and neglect in children

[Mandy's_Mom]

Hello nurses,

I decided to post today to help me cope by sharing some parts of my job. Part of my job is to perform an assessment on children that may have a medical need or chronic condition. These children have been removed from their home by Child Protection Team and my assessment helps to determine if the child will go to a "regular" foster care or a medical home.

Lately, I've seen an increase in cases of neglect, more specifically failure to thrive. Children are not being fed in their homes. I'm not saying they are skinny, these children are cachectic and very, very small.

As I work in one more assessment like this today, it makes me wonder if you are seeing cases like this as well. I know I will go home and hug my children very close tonight but it's a long day ahead and I just need to vent.

[amoLucia]

I heard it or read it somewhere that we are vastly becoming a 'generation of children raising children'. And it seems that that former generation didn't have too good an upbringing. So it makes sense that the latter generation might not fare any better than its predecessor, most likely worse.

(((Mandy's_Mom)))

[Purple_roses]

Goodness, what a difficult job that must be. Hugs to you.