Decreasing Child Abuse with Nurse Partnership
Decreasing Child Abuse with Nurse Partnership
Rachel C.
Abstract
Research has found that the risk for child abuse of children under the age of one year is related to the economic status of their parents. While poverty is not the sole indicator of child abuse, the number of such child abuse cases is significant among those who receive Medicaid, which indicates the family is living in poverty. A nurse partnership program which partners a registered nurse with expectant mothers on Medicaid increases the health outcomes of infants, decreases trauma to infants, and increases the future economic independence of families.
Introduction
Child abuse in America is not a new epidemic; our country’s history has been tainted with it since its inception. Children are abused at all ages, indiscriminate of gender, race, or culture. While the abuse of any child is appalling, the abuse of an infant is especially heinous. Dr. John Leventhal, a professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine completed a recent study which highlighted the fact that “serious abuse-related hospitalizations are more common in infants under the age of one year old and tend to disproportionately affect families on Medicaid,” (Mann, 2012).
These incidents occur because parents are ill-prepared for parenthood and lack the resources necessary to appropriately manage the stress of a new infant. A Nurse Partnership Program (NPP) is the answer to our nation’s call to significantly decrease the amount of child abuse cases for infants under the age of 1 year. If appropriately executed and managed, this program could also improve the quality of life for participating families as well as potentially decrease the number of families who receive aid from public welfare and assistance programs.
Needs Assessment
Child Abuse Statistics
According the United States Department of Health & Human Services (USDHSS) (2011), Nevada is tied with Tennessee as the state with the third highest rate of child
Rachel C.
Abstract
Research has found that the risk for child abuse of children under the age of one year is related to the economic status of their parents. While poverty is not the sole indicator of child abuse, the number of such child abuse cases is significant among those who receive Medicaid, which indicates the family is living in poverty. A nurse partnership program which partners a registered nurse with expectant mothers on Medicaid increases the health outcomes of infants, decreases trauma to infants, and increases the future economic independence of families.
Introduction
Child abuse in America is not a new epidemic; our country’s history has been tainted with it since its inception. Children are abused at all ages, indiscriminate of gender, race, or culture. While the abuse of any child is appalling, the abuse of an infant is especially heinous. Dr. John Leventhal, a professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine completed a recent study which highlighted the fact that “serious abuse-related hospitalizations are more common in infants under the age of one year old and tend to disproportionately affect families on Medicaid,” (Mann, 2012).
These incidents occur because parents are ill-prepared for parenthood and lack the resources necessary to appropriately manage the stress of a new infant. A Nurse Partnership Program (NPP) is the answer to our nation’s call to significantly decrease the amount of child abuse cases for infants under the age of 1 year. If appropriately executed and managed, this program could also improve the quality of life for participating families as well as potentially decrease the number of families who receive aid from public welfare and assistance programs.
Needs Assessment
Child Abuse Statistics
According the United States Department of Health & Human Services (USDHSS) (2011), Nevada is tied with Tennessee as the state with the third highest rate of child
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