What is the law on this....

[short1978]

What are a RN's legal responsibilities for reporting things like abuse, child endangerment, etc? Like if you see someone leave their 2 very little kids in the car with the car running and the window down and going in a store for like 15 minutes? Not even like 30 seconds, but 15 minutes. Ages around 10 mths and 1.5 yrs old, and they were awake and strapped in their seats.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

It's my understanding that as far as the LAW is concerned with mandatory reporting, it is that you have to report suspected abuse as you see it in relation to your patients. If you suspect a patient is being abused, you must report. I don't think the law would apply in the situation you were in, HOWEVER, I do of course believe you did the right thing, and thank goodness you were there to keep an eye on those children since their mother obviously didn't care to.

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

In our state a mandatory reporter is always a mandated reporter for child abuse/neglect, on duty or off. They rely on our skills and assessment even if we are not working.

In cases of vulnerable adults it is only mandated if in course of duties.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

In Texas we have the same rules applied to elderly abuse as well. It is mandated that we report.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Nursing laws or not....this is something everyone should do. It does take a village to raise a child...esp when you have parents like this.

I would thing the base cops, command or what ever they are called will be doing something about this.

[Farmer Jane]

It's good that you called regardless of whether you are required to legally do so.

I would have done the same thing. Had the car been locked she would have come out to find a windowless vehicle.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I would love to know though.

I am not sure if they will contact me for more information or not. They got my home address, hm phone and cell phone while I was on the phone with them. My husband also said they will likely pull the survillence tapes to time stamp when she went in and came out, etc. It is likely she will get in "more" trouble than she possibly would have since she lied about how long she was in there.

You did the right thing, but your involvement is now over. The appropriate agencies will handle it, and it is possible that there will be no action at all.

[justme1972]

It's about really and truly paying attention to what you are doing.

When my twins were both tiny babies, when they got a little bigger, I couldn't carry both of their carry-alls by myself when I went to the grocery store etc. They were just too heavy.

I made a mental effort (and yes, I really did this), that when I loaded them into the cart, I would say to myself, "One baby, two babies".

When I took them back to the car, loaded them back in, BEFORE I pulled out I made it a habit to physically look back and see each baby before I pulled out...that is why I get angry at these stories about running over the toddler in the driveway....I'm thinking, "why didn't you know where the kid was BEFORE you pulled out?"

See, I had the opposite panic problem...even when I didn't have them with me, on rare occasion I would go through this routine and panic when I didn't see them at all....then I would remember that I left the house alone.

It's all about training yourself and keeping your mind on what is important.

[litbitblack, ASN, RN]

In texas that woman would have been arrested for leaving them. Maybe its because she was on base?

[bagladyrn, RN]

Don't have any doubt that you did the right thing! Imagine how it would feel if you had done as others and gone about your business only to see later on the news of children found injured in a car on base or seen an Amber Alert for a carjacking with two children in the car (especially a car left running)! I know that many military wives are young, stressed and far from their support systems, but there are no excuses when it comes to the welfare of children.