A woman comes into the emergency department and states that her husband has abused her physically. She has a number of bruises, and is obviously pregnant. She states she is 7 months pregnant. She states that her husband arrived home drunk and just started hitting her. She states that her main concern at this time is her three young children, who are still in the home with her husband. She had a neighbor bring her in to emergency department. What can the nurse do to assist with this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should follow the proper protocol for reporting domestic violence and suspected child abuse. The nurse should call the authorities and social service workers with the patient's permission to remove the children from harm's way. The nurse should not ask the neighbor to retrieve the children, as this could put the neighbor in danger. The nurse should also not call the husband to bring the children to the emergency department, as this could put the patient in further danger. The safest and most appropriate action is to involve the proper authorities and social workers to ensure the safety of both the patient and her children.

A Woman Comes into the Emergency Department and States That