Am I sure I want to go down this road? Hesitations in the reporting of child maltreatment by nurses.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the process of mandated reporting of child maltreatment by pediatric nurses.


METHODS
Qualitative description using a grounded theory lens was used with a cross-section of pediatric nurses.


RESULTS
A point of divergence in the reporting process appears to occur at the first of three moderating points. When nurses hesitate at this first point, decision-making becomes complex and delays the reporting process, giving rise to two themes: "It's the law" and "The ones that haunt you."


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing educational efforts focused on the recognition of child maltreatment may impact nurses' low rate of reporting.
Eisbach
Shelly S
SS
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. seisbac1@son.jhmi.edu
Driessnack
Martha
M
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult