Am I Sure I Want to Go Down This Road? Hesitations in the Reporting of Child Maltreatment by Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the process of mandated reporting of child maltreatment by pediatric nurses. DESIGN & METHODS: Qualitative description using a grounded theory lens was used with a cross-section of pediatric nurses. Results: A point of divergence in the reporting process appears to occur at the first of three moderating points. When nurses hesitate at this first point, decision-making becomes complex and delays the reporting process, giving rise to two themes: " It's the law" and " The ones that haunt you." Practice Implications: Increasing educational efforts focused on the recognition of child maltreatment may impact nurses' low rate of reporting.