Child abuse: clinical findings and management.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of the role of the nurse practitioner (NP) in identifying, reporting, and managing child abuse in primary care.


METHODS
Selected research, national guidelines, and the author's experience.


CONCLUSIONS
Child abuse is a complex phenomenon characterized by maladaptive behaviors between children and their parents.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of the NP includes identification of families at risk, recognition of clinical findings of abuse, diagnosis of abuse, education for families identified at risk, and management of children diagnosed with abuse. The ultimate goal is the safe return of the child to a loving family.
Chaney
S E
SE
FNP Program, Texas Woman's University, USA. schaney@twu.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed