While volunteering at a homeless shelter, a nurse observes a known pedophile leaving the restroom with a small child.Select the nurse's priority action.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse has a legal and ethical obligation to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities, which in most cases involves contacting the child abuse hotline. The nurse should not attempt to intervene directly in the situation, as this could put both the nurse and the child at risk. Additionally, notifying staff of the shelter may not be sufficient to address the situation, as they may not have the authority or resources to investigate and intervene in cases of suspected child abuse. Continuous observation and documentation of the interaction is important, but it is not a priority over reporting the suspected abuse.

While Volunteering at a Homeless Shelter, a Nurse Observes a Known