A nurse suspects that her next-door neighbor, an older woman, is a victim of elder abuse by her daughter. What is the appropriate action for the nurse to do in this situation?
a. Since the neighbor is not a patient, the nurse should not get involved.
b. Visit the neighbor frequently to confirm the suspicions.
c. Complete a confidential report with the adult protective services in the area.
d. Ask the neighbor herself if she is being abused.
ANS: C
The best action is to make a confidential report with the local adult protective agency. Sus-pected cases should be reported at once to the agency, which will send a trained investigator to determine whether an abusive or imminently dangerous situation exists and will be able to offer safety to the victim and resources to the relatives and family members. In some states with mandatory reporting, failure to report suspicions may result in civil and/or criminal penalties. Also in states with mandatory reporting, the nurse can be held liable for civil and criminal penalties for failure to report suspected cases of abuse. In states without mandatory reporting, it becomes an ethical issue if the nurse is aware of suspected abuse and does not report it. Making a personal investigation will not obtain a safe environment for the neighbor in a timely manner. Asking the neighbor about abuse will not quickly obtain a safe environ-ment or help if needed.
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