Attitudes and Preconceptions: How can education address barriers to nurses’ reporting of child maltreatment?:How can education improve nurses’ preconceptions and attitudes around mandatory reporting and child maltreatment?

This abstract included both a poster (attached) and a 3-minute live presentation. <br/><br/>Background: Nurses’ attitudes can be a barrier to reporting child maltreatment (Nayda, 2005; Chan et al., 2020; Elarousy &amp; Abed, 2019; Feng &amp; Wu, 2005; Lee et al., 2007; Lines et al., 2017).<br/>Nurses agree they have a legal and moral obligation to report (Chan et al., 2020; Green, 2020).<br/>Nurses have varied ideas about mandatory reporting and the child protection system (Bluestone, 2005; Lines et al., 2017; Eisbach &amp; Driessnack, 2010).<br/>Findings: Barriers to reporting include:<br/>Poor confidence in identifying child maltreatment (Atencion et al., 2019; Azizi &amp; Shahhosseini, 2017; Bluestone, 2005; Eisbach &amp; Driessnack, 2010; Feng &amp; Levine, 2005; Lee &amp; Kim, 2018).<br/>Poor faith in the child protection system(Plitz &amp; Wachtel, 2009; Lee &amp; Kim, 2018; Green, 2020).<br/>Misconceptions about harms of child maltreatment (Lee &amp; kim, 2018; Lee et al. 2007; Elarousy &amp; Abed, 2019; Lee &amp; Kim, 2018; Feng &amp; Levine, 2005; Feng &amp; Wu, 2005; Chan et al., 2020, Azizi &amp; Shahhossenini, 2017.)<br/>Nurses need opportunities to challenge their attitudes and preconceptions about child maltreatment and child protection. (Bluestone, 2005; Azizi &amp; Shahhosseini, 2017; Feng &amp; Wu, 2005).<br/>Significance: Pre-service education presents an opportunity for nurses to examine attitudes and preconceptions.<br/>Driving this change to education can result in nurses feeling more prepared and more confident to make mandatory reports.