A 17-year-old female presents to the emergency department with bruises, a disheveled appearance, and signs of malnutrition. She is reluctant to provide information about her situation and appears fearful. During the assessment, she reveals that she was brought to the city by someone she referred to as her "employer" who promised her a job but has since taken her identification documents and restricted her freedom. Which of the following actions should the nurse prioritize to ensure the safety and well-being of this patient?
Contact the patient's employer to verify the legitimacy of the job offer and the patient's current situation.
Encourage the patient to return to her home town and report her situation to local law enforcement there.
Provide the patient with a list of local job agencies to help her find new employment opportunities.
Assess the patient for immediate medical needs and ensure that she is not in immediate danger.
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. Contacting the employer could potentially put the patient at further risk if the trafficker becomes aware of her location or intentions.
B. Encouraging the patient to return to her home town might not address immediate safety concerns and could place her at greater risk.
C. Providing job agency information does not address the immediate safety and health needs of the patient.
D. Ensuring the patient's immediate safety and addressing any urgent medical needs is the top priority. This includes assessing for immediate threats and providing necessary medical care.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Bruises from a sports injury are less likely to indicate intimate partner violence without additional context.
B. Stress from work is a general issue and does not directly suggest intimate partner violence.
C. A fall down the stairs could be an accident; however, further context is needed to assess if this is related to violence.
D. Fear at home and reluctance to discuss it could indicate underlying intimate partner violence, requiring further assessment and intervention.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Nurses are mandated reporters and must report suspicions of abuse or neglect, regardless of concrete evidence or verbal admission.
B. A verbal admission from the victim is not required; suspicions alone are sufficient to make a report.
C. While notifying a supervisor may be part of internal protocols, it is not a legal requirement for making a report.
D. Notifying the parents may not be safe or appropriate in cases of abuse, and it is not a requirement for reporting abuse or neglect.