An 18-month-old infant is brought into the emergency room with several recent cigarette burns on his chest and legs. He cannot move his left arm, which is edematous. What is the nurse's legal responsibility in this case?

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The nurse's legal and ethical responsibility in this case is to notify the attending physician or emergency room supervisor immediately of the suspected abuse. Failure to report suspected abuse could result in legal sanctions against the nurse, and more importantly, failure to report could allow the abuse to continue, placing the child at further risk of harm. The nurse should not chastise the mother or do nothing, as these actions do not protect the child's safety. The nurse should also report any objectively observed signs of abuse, not just suspicions.

An 18-Month-Old Infant Is Brought into the Emergency Room with Several