A brand new state law requires Pennsylvania nurses to finish child abuse reporting training

People applying for nursing licenses or renewing their licenses in Pennsylvania are actually required to take mandatory training in recognizing and reporting child abuse under a brand new state law.

Effective January 1, applicants for an initial RN license must complete a minimum of three hours of continuous education in recognizing and reporting child abuse approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services as a requirement for licensure. RNs in search of license renewal must complete a minimum of two hours of DHS-approved child abuse CE training.

Nurses say mandatory education, a part of the state’s revised child molestation law within the wake of the scandal involving former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, may gain advantage molestation victims.

“We hope that the newly restructured child abuse reporting laws and required education will increase awareness and the importance of identifying potential areas of risk for our youth.” said Jennifer Molnar, MSN, CRNP-AC, PNP-BC, SANE-P, emergency department nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “We hope that with increased education and awareness resulting from the change in regulations and the new reporting system, potential victimization in the pediatric age group will be identified earlier.”

Under-reporting of abuse

When underreporting occurs, abuse statistics appear lower than they really are, Molnar said, so it is vital to get an accurate picture of the scope of the issue to enhance preventive measures and improve patient care. CHOP has a Sexual Assault Response Team, a multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing the perfect possible care to pediatric victims of sexual assault.

The recent regulations expand the state’s definition of kid molestation, make clear who’s a compulsory reporter and who’s an alleged perpetrator of kid molestation, and increase penalties for failing to file a compulsory report.

The mandatory education requirement caused some concern since the news broke in late fall and there was little details about how you can achieve it, nursing leaders say.

“There was initial concern about how do we make sure everyone is meeting continuing education requirements?” said Paula Agosto, MHA, RN, CCRN, senior vp and CNO, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “People asked, ‘How are we going to do this? Will we create these programs???

CE programs have been or are being created by various organizations specifically to meet these needs. These programs must receive state approval.

Mandatory reporters

Increasing the number of professionals who serve as mandated reporters in cases of suspected child abuse reduces the likelihood that young victims will fall through the cracks, Agosto said. Because state law requires mandated reporters, teachers, firefighters, child care providers and licensed health care professionals to report if there is reasonable cause to fear that a child is being harmed by calling the statewide toll-free ChildLine at 800-932- 0313 or via the online reporting tool. Mandatory reporters who fail to report child abuse cases may face criminal prosecution.

“If you hear something, see something or think something, you have to report it and I think that only benefits the child and the family and everyone else involved in this situation?” – said Agosto.

Mandatory education about child abuse helps advance the career, said Kathleen M. McCauley, MD, RN, FAAN, FAHA, associate dean for educational programs on the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia.

“I think unless you work in the pediatric world, you might not know much about it.” she said. “The Pennsylvania Board of Nursing did a unbelievable job in deciding to implement a compulsory CE certification requirement for licensure. They defined what CE may be very thoughtfully. It’s not only the normal things where you pay just a few hundred dollars, go to a conference, and at the tip you get a certificate and that is all that matters. This is a rather more liberal definition of what counts, which makes it much easier for nurses to tailor their ongoing education to what they really want. ?

Robin Farmer is a contract author.