Citation

Reis M. Can. Nurse 1993; 89(2): 42-45.

Vernacular Title

L'enfant neglige d'age prescolaire.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Canadian Nurses Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7680280

Abstract

Neglect is seen as a chronically insufficient quantitative or qualitative response towards a child's physical needs. Neglected children often demonstrate considerable developmental delay, manifested through deficits in their mental, motor, linguistic and/or social skills. Neglect can carry profound consequences for the children who are the victims. Some of the children suffer diverse types of long term sequelae. They display personality disorders, sleep disturbances, suicidal tendencies or attempts, and they are runaways. The problem of neglect is associated with several factors; it is a multi-factorial phenomenon. The importance of intervening with these children's families in order to improve the overall health of the children is an essential element in the role of the school nurse. The author developed an approach towards families with neglected children based upon the Calgary Family Assessment Model (1984) and the model for care of disadvantaged families designed by Thibaudeau and Reidy (1982). The author recommends that nurses, working with negligent families, look for the positive attributes of family members. Too often, health professionals only look for the negative. It is important that nurses accept the values of each family. The attitude of the nurse should be one of respect and confidence, not one of judging or working against the family value system. The importance of team work can not be overemphasized. It is difficult for a nurse to be alone in front of passive families who do not recognize their own negligence. They need a team able to understand the problems and formulate new strategies. A discouraged professional person leads to the risk of multiplying the forms of negligence.

Language: fr