NURS2022 Health Of Infants Children And Young People

A registered nurse (RN) practices via evidence-based and person-centred approach in order to effectively deal with preventative, curative, restorative and palliative care environment. RNs execute professional and therapeutic relationships with the service users and their family members in order to procure effective treatment and thereby helping to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the service users (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2017). The Nursing and the Midwifery Board of Australia (2017) have tabulated seven different practice standards for the RNs. All these standards and interconnected and help the nursing professionals to execute their roles and responsibilities in legally and ethically consistent manner. The following essay aims to highlight the criteria that the registered nursing professionals are required to undertake while procuring care to child. The main areas which will be highlighted in this essay include taking consent and mandatory reporting.

Figure: Registered Nurse Standards

(Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2017)

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies (2018), except during an emergency situation, none of the medical procedures can be executed without taking prior consent from the patients or from someone who has lawful authority to provide consent on behalf of the patient. In case of children who are below 18 years old, provided consent solely depends on their parents. As per the norms highlighted by Australian Institute of Family Studies (2018), it is right of the parent to decide about their child’s medical treatment as the child has no legal right to take medical decision for their own and the overall autonomy and decision making power is opted over the parents until they attain maturity. In other words, it can be said that child’s best interest limits on their parental authority and children can provide consent to their own medical treatment once they are 16 years old.

Taking consent form the parents while developing care plan from children or involving parents in active decision-making process mainly falls under the standard 5 practice standards of registered nurse in Australia. According to this standard, it is the duty of the registered nurse to proper planning and communication. One of the main criterions under this standard is comprehensive construction of the nursing practice and planning as per contingencies and expected outcomes only after taking informed consent from the relevant or the concerned person and this case of childcare, the concerned person is their parents (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2017).  Friedberg et al. (2013) is of the opinion that it is the duty of the nursing professionals to discuss clearly about the reason of the care plan, the current condition of their child and the expected outcome of the overall treatment. However, there is a period where an older child who has still not attained maturity in legal terms, can provide consent in some selected procedures without parents prior knowledge or consent and may even provide consent of his or her parents objects. However, it will be the duty of the registered nursing professional, to highlight the circumstances under which the child, who is grownup but still no legally mature is eligible in providing consent even under the absence of his or her parents.

Mandatory reporting is used to describe the legislative requirement for chosen section of people in order to report possible cases of child abuse. However, the laws of mandatory reporting are not same across all the jurisdictions. In South Australia, the law of mandatory reporting is applicable to suspects under certain reasonable grounds. These grounds mainly include physical, sexual or emotional abuse or kind of neglect to certain extent over the child that he or she has suffered or is most likely to suffer from emotional or physical injury which is extremely detrimental for the overall well-being of the child. The concept of mandatory reporting is entitled over healthcare professionals like a registered nurse, midwives, doctor, psychologist or a school teacher (Australian Government – Australian Institute of Family Studies 2017).

From the perspective of the registered nurse it can be said that mandatory reporting falls under the practice standards for the registered nurses in Australia. According to the standard six of nursing practice, it is the duty of the registered nursing professional to execute safe, appropriate and responsive nursing practice. Under this nursing practice standard, one of the main criterions is to practice in accordance with the prevailing policies, guidelines, regulations standards and legislations (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2017). Thus via strictly abiding by the legislations or the prevailing norms of the government in the domain of child abuse,  a nurse can provide a holistic care to the child along with delivering comprehensive, safe and quality practice. This will eventually help to achieve the desired outcomes while promoting optimal health and well-being of the children who are vulnerable to physical or sexual abuse both the outsiders or from the family members (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2017).

Pietrantonio et al. (2013), is of the opinion that registered nursing professionals who are working directly with children and their family members, are mandated by the law to report the governmental authorities about any reasonable suspicion for child abuse. However, there are certain barriers in reporting. In order to overcome these barriers, few strategies must be undertaken. One of the effective strategies is the development of positive relationship of the mandated healthcare professionals with the child and child’s caregiver. However, it is also recommended to erect a specific framework and skill set for discussion of the maltreatment and subsequent reporting to child protective services with the concerned caregivers (Pietrantonio et al. 2013).

Thus from the above discussion, it can be concluded that in the domain of taking consent while procuring care to children who are minors, it is duty of the nursing professional to take consent from their parents while stating the care plan in detail and the expected outcomes. Practicing in this approach will facilitate informed decision-making process. In case of mandatory reporting, it is the duty of the RNs to abide by the government mentioned rules and regulations in order to any kind of suspected physical, sexual or psychological abuse committed over the children (below 18 years of age).

References

Australian Government – Australian Institute of Family Studies. 2017. Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect. Access date: 3^rd August 2018. Retrieved from: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/mandatory-reporting-child-abuse-and-neglect

Australian Government – Australian Institute of Family Studies. 2018. Citizen child: Australian law and children's rights. Access date: 3^rd August 2018. Retrieved from: https://aifs.gov.au/publications/citizen-child-australian-law-and-childrens-rights/8-medical-procedures-children 

Friedberg, M.W., Van Busum, K., Wexler, R., Bowen, M. & Schneider, E.C., 2013. A demonstration of shared decision making in primary care highlights barriers to adoption and potential remedies. Health Affairs, 32(2), pp.268-275.
https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2012.1084

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. 2017. Registered nurse standards for practice. Access date: 3^rd August 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx 

Pietrantonio, A.M., Wright, E., Gibson, K.N., Alldred, T., Jacobson, D. & Niec, A., 2013. Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect: Crafting a positive process for health professionals and caregivers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37(2-3), pp.102-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.12.007