Hi everyone!
I'm currently putting together a class presentation/assignment on an ethical dilemma, being Child Protection and Mandatory Reporting.
As I am currently a Div 2 student I haven't thankfully, had to deal with this issue as yet in the work place. I am wondering though if there is anyone out there who has been in the position of having to report a suspected case of child abuse/neglect and perhaps how they felt about it? I am curious to know how nurses feel in general about this particular topic. Would you feel comfortable in making a report? Do you feel you have the support at work to back you up if need be? Are you nervous about possible ramifications which may occur as a result of making such a report, either affecting yourself or the child? If you have made a report were you taken seriously and was it followed up?
I have been doing some research and one thing that keeps popping up is the fact that since mandatory reporting came in there has been a significant increase in the amount of child abuse cases being reported, which of course is great but the downfall is that there is not enough resources to investigate theses reports and not enough foster homes and hostels to take care of so many children. This then brings up the topic of how to deal with these issues and is mandatory reporting helping the situation or causing more problems?
I would love to hear any opinions on this topic which may be able to help me put across the issues and feelings of nurses .
Many thanks Megan
