Innovative Scenario-Based Child Abuse Training for Doctoral Nurse Practitioner Students

Background: Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue with long-lasting consequences that extend beyond immediate harm to the child. Despite substantial evidence highlighting its profound impact on individuals and society, formal training on recognizing and responding to child abuse remains limited in graduate nursing education, particularly in nurse practitioner (NP) programs. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-person structured evidence-informed child sexual abuse training session in enhancing NP students' ability to recognize, respond to, and manage suspected cases of maltreatment. Methods: Voluntary presurvey and postsurvey were completed by 34 NP students via Qualtrics after an in-person training session. χ² analysis was used to assess changes in confidence across key domains. Results: Improved NP student self-confidence in identification, documentation, and making appropriate referrals occurred. χ² analysis demonstrated a significant posttest relationship between confidence in recognizing abuse signs and documenting suspected cases. Conclusion: Educational programs that increase NP students' confidence and skills in managing child abuse cases should be integrated into graduate curricula. Further research is warranted. Implications for Nursing: Integrating structured, evidence-informed child maltreatment training into NP programs can strengthen provider competence in early recognition, intervention, and referral, ultimately improving individual and public health outcomes.