Child Abuse Response Simulation for Advanced Practice Nursing Students

The purpose of this project was for advanced practice nursing students to gain experience taking a history from a parent or caregiver and communicating the treatment plan for an infant in which child abuse is suspected.

Fifty-three students participated in a 1:1 simulated encounter with a standardized patient acting as the mother of an infant with a leg injury that reportedly resulted from a fall from the couch. Students received feedback from the standardized patient via an assessment tool and debriefed with faculty immediately after the simulation.

All students demonstrated empathy, acknowledged the mother's emotions, and communicated the concern for abuse. Additionally, all students explained the x-ray findings, need for hospital admission, and referral to investigative agency for further evaluation.

Simulations designed to provide advanced practice nursing students with experience interviewing a parent and responding in the case of suspected child abuse are an important method of preparing them for initial clinical encounters.