Rasberry_RN_

Update: this case was actually founded for neglect. thanks for all of your feedback even though this thread is two years old.

Absolutely!

Well as a mandated reported I immediately felt obligated to report. I’ve asked this question to a lawyer who said I absolutely Should have reported this, I asked this question to veteran doctor who said I absolutely should have reported this and I asked this question to 2 other CPS workers who also said without a doubt that this was reportable. I not only reported this event to cover my *** but to also fulfill my duty as a Mandated Reporter, to ensure the safety of the child and to provide record of this event in case something detrimental happened in the future. Even though this happened some months ago and I don’t know what the end outcome was for this young boy but at least I can rest knowing I did the right thing in MY EYES. I’m glad to hear all of your opinions! Thanks for the discussing!

How can you know the parent or child is being truthful? That’s where a lot of nurses mess up because they assume what they are being told is truthful. People lie all the time and I’ve seen some parents threatened kids to lie about a situation. I’m not saying that this happened in my case but it does happen. What if the father gave the child the brownie and then got scared when the child became symptomatic, brought the patient to the ER and then lied and said they didn’t know the child got a hold of the brownie? What if he threatened the child to stick to the story? What if the father left the brownie out within reach of the child to obtain? What if there were other drugs In the household that the child could have gotten a hold of? What happens if the child gets a hold of something else in the future with detrimental outcomes because you didn’t report it the first time? How could you live with yourself? What I am saying is we don’t know what is going on In the household! Child neglect and abuse can be very subtle and you have to be keen on what’s being presented in front of you. Always report when something just doesn’t seem right. Especially when you have a symptomatic child in your care as a result of ingesting a legal or illegal recreational DRUG.

In my state of Michigan marijuana is legal but that doesn’t mean that parents should leave their brownies around easily accessible to children. Heck that Brownie could have been laced with something else. Parents and children could be good actors. If your depending on a CHILD to tell you the truth about something your crazy. It’s OK to interview a child but sometimes children are scared of their parents. Keep that in mind as well. We are not fortune tellers. Let’s remind ourselves that CPS is basically a liaison between ourselves and the child’s home. Just because you report doesn’t mean the child will be taken away it just simply means they are doing a well being check to ensure kids are safe. They are not evil. They are life savers.

Hey listen, reporting a child to CPS isn’t always easy, heck it isn’t easy at all. I agree with you that you have to check yourself for bias, I agree with you that you have to look at the facts, I agree that you need to engage the parent in partnership. However you also need to use common sense and not worry about ruining your relationship with the parent, your top priority is the WELFARE OF THE CHILD ONLY. Look at each scenario and ask yourself if what your are observing makes sense. Look at things from a broad perspective and take into account the entire picture. Think about the worst thing that could happen. In my case I reported to CPS because I was worried that the child could have access to other drugs in the household. What if the child came back into my ER in cardiac arrest for overdosing On another drug. Guess who license will be at risk for not reporting! The father stated that he was doing drugs at the time the child got a hold of the brownie. Imagine if it was something else. Even though it was just a brownie, it could have been heroin, ectasy, cocaine, ANYTHING. Parent can and will get pissed that you called CPS but you shouldn’t worry about that! Your priority is the Child’s safety alone and nothing more. Child abuse cases get missed all the time because people are too nervous to report and too scared to upset the parent. Remember people can and will LIE. You are not a detective. If something doesn’t seem right I don’t care what it is, you need to report ! and your right it’s not our job to decide if it was abuse it’s CPS job. I think you have the wrong idea here my friend!

I don’t know why people think that calling Child Protective Services is punishment to the parent. I was in no way trying to punish anyone. Calling CPS is like kinda like calling the cops on and elderly person to do a wellbeing check. In this case that’s exactly what I was doing.

Exactly !

And all teenagers mature at the same level?

The fact that you don’t believe it’s neglect when a parent fails to look after a child near a pool is literally breaking my heart

AND THAT WAS MY REASONING FOR CALLING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES! ? I wish we all thought this way when it comes to cases like this. We are not lawyers, we are not detectives, we are not judges. We are nurses and we are advocates. It’s our job to protect our patients.

Would you question yourself on how the child got a hold of the brownie? How would your opinion change if its was a piece of heroin/Cocaine or an ecstasy pill that he thought was candy ? And the parent stating he doesn't know who they got it ?

What's your rationale for not reporting this situation. How would you explain this to a group of nursing students, asking you the same question ? What's your rebuttal?

As a pediatric nurse how would you explain to a lawyer your reasoning for reporting or not reporting?

What would be your rationale for not reporting ? I just want opinions. Let all have a friendly conversation. would you report this, why or why Not ? Feel free to rebuttal.