title: Am I sure I want to go down this road? Hesitations in the reporting of child maltreatment by nurses.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. seisbac1@son.jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Shelly S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Eisbach
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driessnack
mesh_terms: 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