The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old client who is dehydrated and malnourished, and suspects that the client may be neglected. Which information most strongly supports the nurse's suspicion of child neglect?

Question

The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old client who is dehydrated and malnourished, and suspects that the client may be neglected.  Which information most strongly supports the nurse's suspicion of child neglect?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Child neglect occurs when a caregiver purposely withholds or does not adequately provide necessary resources to fulfill the basic needs of a child (eg, adequate nutrition, security, hygiene). Supervisory neglect, leaving children without adequate guardianship to ensure safety, is one form of child neglect (Option D). Children age <12 lack formal operational reasoning and cannot anticipate safety risks or respond appropriately to emergencies, and should therefore not be left to supervise other children. It is a priority for the nurse to intervene, as this is an unsafe situation for the young children. The nurse, or social services, should report the situation to an appropriate government child protective service and/or law enforcement. (Option A) Potential job loss indicates that the parent may be overwhelmed. The nurse should alert a social worker about the situation at a later time to discuss potential assistance. (Option B) Transitioning to the role of a single parent can present mental and financial stressors, possibly requiring assistance from a social worker. However, this does not require immediate intervention. (Option C) A parent stealing food may warrant calling the police or security, but the children's safety is a priority requiring immediate action. Educational objective: Supervisory neglect (eg, leaving a young child to supervise other children) is a type of child neglect and represents an immediate risk to the safety of younger children. The nurse should ensure that the children are safe and report the child neglect incident to social services, the appropriate child protective service, and/or law enforcement.

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