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.