Competencies of nurses involved in preventing child abuse in hospital:a qualitative descriptive study

Nurses working in hospitals play important roles in preventing child abuse, detecting it early, and providing ongoing support, as they have many opportunities to interact with children and their parents. However, because of this, they feel that they lack competency and have difficulty in making decisions that prevent child abuse. This study aimed to clarify competencies of nurses involved in preventing child abuse. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 10 nurses who have been recommended by their supervisor or peers as having excellent skills in preventing child abuse in hospitals. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively and descriptively. Nine categories were identified as competencies of nurses involved in preventing child abuse, including "Be considerate of parents' feelings and build a trusting relationship with them", "Ensure the safety of children and check their mental and physical conditions", "Support for the parent and child who have concerns when the opportunity arises", "Collect information, and share and collaborate closely with various professions", "Strive to improve the current situation and professional development". In order to enhance the practical skills of nurses involved in preventing child abuse in hospitals, in-service education is essential for helping them develop these competencies. J. Med. Invest. 73 : 251-256, February, 2026.