Student nurse needs help

L.E. ChaosRN

2003-10-19 03:06:56 UTC

Post by Myra
hi, i'm a student nurse in Ontario,Canada and i have given this assignment
to research but i couldn't find the answers...if you could help me answer
these questions that would be appreciated or if you could give me any
resources...
1)How should the nurse conduct the psychosocial history of pregnant woman in
labor (she's in an abuse situation)?
2)What are the laws in your state regarding the nurse's responsibility to
report possible abuse?

The answer to # 2 is New York State, USA, Nurses are Mandatory reporters of
child abuse only. We were, several years ago required to do CEUs for
recognition and reporting procedures. It was subsequentially made part of
the State education process for all disciplines who work with children.
There is no required reporting of domestic abuse (of adults). However if a
patient reports it to the Nurse (say in the ER), then s/he is expected to at
the very least notify a Social Service/Social Worker, who will attempt to
get the person to take it to Law Enforcement.
The Answer to #1 should be carefully, as you are not to sound judgemental,
it can be distracting (which could be good) during the labor process,
however I would be reluctant to "carve in stone" ANYTHING said during labor.
But it would be a great way to do a complete and, hopefully more acurate
history afterwards, "Ms. Jones, I would like to clarify a few things you
said ..."
Good luck.
Probablly not the "textbook" answers, but based on the REAL world that we
Nurses end up having to work in.

ChaosRN