A mother sees her boyfriend leaving her 7-year-old daughter's bedroom; how should the nurse proceed?

• A. Confront the boyfriend
• B. Report to authorities
• C. Ignore
• D. Ask the daughter

Answer: (B)

The priority here is protecting the child and acting on suspected abuse. Nurses are mandated reporters, so when there’s a concern like seeing someone leave a child’s room under suspicious circumstances, the right course is to report the situation to the appropriate authorities (child protective services or law enforcement) so a proper safety assessment can be done and the child is protected.

Confronting the adult on the scene could escalate danger and isn’t the nurse’s role in safeguarding the child. Ignoring the situation or trying to question the child directly could miss or contaminate important information and leave the child at continued risk. After reporting, the nurse should document what was observed and any relevant details, and ensure the child’s immediate safety with appropriate referrals and follow-up care.