Respond to one of your peer’s scenarios using the guidelines for submission/reporting in your state. Be sure to include a reference to your state’s website related to mandated reporting.

Peer Discussion scenario

Mandated reporters need to report physical, sexual, emotional abuse, or neglect (Mandated Reporter, n.d.). To report these incidents, one must only have a reasonable suspicion; therefore, no proof is required. In the state of California, steps needed to report the issue are to report to local law enforcement such as a police department or sheriff’s office, immediately, by phone. Then, a written report must be sent in a form known as 8572 by fax or another form of electronic submission, within thirty-six hours (Mandated Reporter, n.d.). If mandated reporters fail to report suspected abuse, they can become criminally liable. This can mean up to six months in jail or be having to pay a thousand-dollar fine.

A scenario would look something like this:

An emergency room nurse receives the report on a previously healthy 87-year-old female, that is accompanied by her adult child. The report given claims that the patient seemed to be more confused over the past few days. The patient appears dishelmed, hair tangled, and is not dressed appropriately for the weather.

An MRI is taken, labs are drawn, and all is coming back normal, except that the WBC in her urine, is elevated. When the nurse assesses the patient, she notices the patient’s fingernails are, and the patient has a foul smell in the perineal area. The nurse goes ahead and checks the patient’s perineal area and notices that the underwear appears very dirty, the perineal area is reddened, and a small ulcer is noted around the coccyx. The nurse suspects neglect, what should the nurse do?

Reference

Mandated Reporter California. (n.d.). California Mandated Reporting Easy Steps. Retrieved from Mandated Reporter California website: http://mandatedreporterca.com/images/one_page_shee…