Nursing leadership when child abuse is suspected - facilitating and caring with the child's best interest in mind

Background: Nurses often miss support and guidance from their nursing leader when encountering the ethical dilemma of suspecting child abuse. There is scarce knowledge about the nurse leaders' experiences when suspecting child abuse. The study is part of a larger research project. Aim: To illuminate the experiences of first line nurse managers when there is a suspicion of child abuse at a children's ward. Method: Qualitative descriptive design with individual interviews based on a strategic sample of eight first-line nurse managers from Norwegian hospitals. Findings: Three themes emerged. The nurse leaders showed distinct attitudes based on their consciousness and knowledge, and they strived to be a leading star for the staff. The nurse leaders did not overtake responsibility but tried to ensure that the child and the family were taken care of. The nurse leaders worked behind the scenes to care for the whole family and the staff. 'Facilitating and caring with the child's best interests in mind' emerged as the main theme. Conclusion: Nurse leaders take concern when child abuse has been suspected at their ward. They facilitate nursing care with the child's best interests in mind so that nurses can provide nursing care to the whole family.