Mandated reporter?

[Oswin]

Ok, I'm a bit confused about this whole mandated reporter thing. I understand that as a nurse I'm required to report suspected elder/child abuse. However, is that only the case when if it's encountered while I'm on the clock at work? Or am I legally required to report it in any situation?

Morals and ethics aside, I'm strictly wondering about the legality.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Depends on the state. In my state it's around the clock if you have direct knowledge of abuse or witnessed abuse. Teachers, police, nurses, physicians, firefighters, counselors, social workers and other direct care professionals are mandated reporters of witnessed/direct knowledge abuse. You don't hang up your license when you clock out.

Reported abuse (such as child states bruises are from my dad) are reportable when working using employer protocol (I work pedi home health/private duty. Unless eminent danger the call to protective services is made by the nursing supervisor or branch director)

[Oswin]

I'm in Illinois. What state are you in?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

My state recently revised mandated reported laws, and as a result, it is now part of mandatory continuing education for all licensed professionals in the state. It did clear up a few questions and provided some resources. Since it's state specific, obviously the CE I took wouldn't help you, but this is one specific to IL: https://mr.dcfstraining.org/UserAuth/Login!loginPage.action;jsessionid=9E74009DB0B1B9959CE391A2B314DB34

[Jules A, MSN]

Morals and ethics aside, I'm strictly wondering about the legality.

I'm wondering why morals and ethics aside? Whether I was a mandated reported by law or not there is no way I would not report something I felt was suspicious regarding a vulnerable being, be it a person or animal.

[Oswin]

Because I want to know what the law is on the matter.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

https://facultyhandbook.uchicago.edu...glect-and-faqs

9. What are some examples of abuse and neglect?Although you should always use your best judgment to assess whether a child you know in your official capacity has been abused or neglected, normally you would call the IDCFS Child Abuse Hotline under circumstances such as: (a) you see https://facultyhandbook.uchicago.edu...glect-and-faqsmarks on a child's body that do not appear to have been caused by accident; (b) you see someone hitting a child with an object; © a child tells you that he or she has been harmed or sexually abused by someone; (d) a child appears to be undernourished, is dressed inappropriately for the weather, or is young and has been left alone.10. What does it mean to know a child in my official capacity”?Although ANCRA does not define official capacity,” generally the term means the things you do in the course of carrying out the duties of your role at the University. Thus to know a child in your official capacity means that you have become aware of or have gotten to know a child in the course of doing your job. For example, a department chair who meets the children of a graduate student at a departmental social event would be deemed to know those children in his or her official capacity. Likewise, an academic appointee who meets a child in connection with giving a lecture at the University would be deemed to know the child in his or her official capacity.11. What if I see or suspect child abuse off campus – for example, while taking a walk in the park, I see a man strike a child repeatedly with his fists?It depends on the circumstances. As a mandated reporter, you are required only to report acts of suspected abuse or neglect that you learn about in your official capacity as a University employee, including but not limited to abuse or neglect you witness at a University event or on University property. If the child you witnessed being abused during your walk in the park is not somebody you know through conducting your duties as a University academic appointee, then you do not have a duty to report to IDCFS, although you are not prohibited from doing so. On the other hand, if you know the child because you met him or her while giving a tour of your research laboratory to a group of middle school students, you would have a duty to report immediately to IDCFS.

From the UNiversity of Chicago

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Look up in your state. It should be easy to find. I am still licensed as a teacher and a nurse. I am a mandated reporter. In fact, in the state of NC, ALL citizens are considered mandates reporters. You can call anonymously if you have to. I looked up NC for a paper I had to write. I just googled it:

[h=4]Mandated Reporters[/h]There are seven groups of mandated reporters as defined by state law (the Illinois Abused and Neglected Childrens Reporting Act or ANCRA, 1975):

• School Personnel
  
• Medical Personnel
  
• Social Service and Mental Health Personnel
  
• Law Enforcement Personnel
  
• Coroner/Medical Examiner Personnel
  
• Child Care Personnel
  
• Clergy
  

Reporting Child Abuse - Office for the Protection of Children and Youth - Archdiocese of Chicago