Establishing a therapeutic relationship with an abused child

Area of Science:

• Child Abuse Pediatrics
• Pediatric Nursing
• Therapeutic Relationships

Background:

• Establishing trust with abused children is crucial for pediatric nurses.
• The nurse-child relationship evolves from play to focused communication for abuse disclosure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline strategies for pediatric nurses in building therapeutic relationships with abused children.
• To emphasize developmentally appropriate interventions for child empowerment and vulnerability resolution.

Main Methods:

• Observational analysis of nurse-child interactions.
• Developmentally informed communication techniques.
• Empowerment-focused intervention strategies.

Main Results:

• Therapeutic relationships progress through distinct stages, from play to disclosure.
• Developmentally appropriate language and setting are key to successful interaction.
• Interventions effectively empower children to address their vulnerability.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric nurses require specific skills to foster trust and facilitate disclosure in abused children.
• Empowerment-based, developmentally sensitive approaches are vital for therapeutic success.