Most states have laws requiring mandatory reporting for suspicion of child abuse as a condition
of professional licensure. Research the law of the state in which you plan to be licensed as an
RN (Georgia) and consider the information as you respond to this discussion.
Read the following resources before posting to the discussion:
Interactive: Child Abuse
Ellington, E. (2017). Psychiatric nursing’s role in child abuse: Prevention, recognition, and
treatment.
(Links to an external site.)
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 55(11), 16-20.

DOI:10.3928/02793695-20171016-04
New York State Office of Children and Family Services. (2019). Summary guide for mandated
reporters in New York State.
(Links to an external site.)
Retrieved from http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/publications/Pub1159.pdf
Initial Post
Address the following:
Discuss the legal implications of mandatory reporting for nurses in your State of licensure.
Discuss the ethical implications of mandatory reporting for nurses in your State of licensure.
How would the RN overcome the feeling of hesitation to report suspected child abuse?
Base your initial post on your readings and research on this topic.
Textbook Readings
Silbert-Flagg, J., & Pillitteri, A. (2018). Maternal and child health nursing: Care of the childbearing
and childrearing family (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Chapter 55: Nursing Care of a Family in Crisis: Maltreatment and Violence in the Family (pp.
1557-78)
Townsend, M., & Morgan, K. (2018). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in
evidence-based practice (9th ed.). F. A. Davis.
Chapter 2: Mental Health/Mental Illness: Historical and Theoretical Concepts (pp. 12-25)
Chapter 4: Psychopharmacology (pp. 54-84)