Diagnosing Child Abuse: The Role of the Nurse Practitioner

• Child abuse is more than just the incident; it is the starting point of a multitude of problems.
• Lack of education coupled with little experience with diagnosing, reporting or testifying, increases the difficulty in making the diagnosis of child abuse.
• Primary care providers have frequent contact with children, especially during the critical years of infancy and toddlerhood when children are at an increased risk for abuse.
• Consideration of risk factors may lead to the early implementation of interventions geared toward lessening the effects of abuse, such as screening and anticipatory guidance.
• Accurate and prompt diagnosis of child abuse may facilitate the care of children in the acute phase and also minimize the effects experienced later in life.

Child abuse is a major epidemic within the United States, affecting over 3 million children in 2011. Although specific children may be at increased risk, child abuse can affect anyone, at any time. To provide care, a nurse practitioner must be know the clinical manifestations, differential diagnoses, and epidemiology to accurately rule-out other disorders and develop an appropriate plan of care.