Respond to one of your peer's scenarios using theguidelines for submission/reporting in your state. Be sure to includea reference to your state's website related to mandated reporting.

Peer Discussion scenario

Mandated reporters need to report physical, sexual, emotional abuse,or neglect (Mandated Reporter, n.d.). To report these incidents, onemust only have a reasonable suspicion; therefore, no proof isrequired. In the state of California, steps needed to report the issueare to report to local law enforcement such as a police department orsheriff’s office, immediately, by phone. Then, a written reportmust be sent in a form known as 8572 by fax or another form ofelectronic submission, within thirty-six hours (Mandated Reporter,n.d.). If mandated reporters fail to report suspected abuse, they canbecome criminally liable. This can mean up to six months in jail or behaving to pay a thousand-dollar fine.

A scenario would look something like this:

An emergency room nurse receives the report on a previously healthy87-year-old female, that is accompanied by her adult child. The reportgiven claims that the patient seemed to be more confused over the pastfew days. The patient appears dishelmed, hair tangled, and is notdressed appropriately for the weather.

An MRI is taken, labs are drawn, and all is coming back normal,except that the WBC in her urine, is elevated. When the nurse assessesthe patient, she notices the patient’s fingernails are, and thepatient has a foul smell in the perineal area. The nurse goes aheadand checks the patient’s perineal area and notices that theunderwear appears very dirty, the perineal area is reddened, and asmall ulcer is noted around the coccyx. The nurse suspects neglect,what should the nurse do?

Reference

Mandated Reporter California. (n.d.). California Mandated ReportingEasy Steps. Retrieved from Mandated Reporter California website: http://mandatedreporterca.com/images/one_page_shee…