What types of situations require mandatory reporting by nurses and to whom must reports be made?

• A. Only when a patient requests to disclose.
• B. No reporting is required.
• C. Suspected abuse/neglect of children, elders, or dependent adults, and certain infections or safety threats; reports go to designated state agencies.
• D. All illnesses must be reported publicly.

Answer: (C)

Mandatory reporting is a legal duty for nurses: you must report certain concerns to state authorities even if the patient does not request it. Specifically, if you suspect abuse or neglect of children, elders, or dependent adults, or if there are certain reportable infections or safety threats, you are required to report. The reports go to designated state agencies such as Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, and the state health department or other public health authorities responsible for these matters. This process is about protecting vulnerable people and public health, and it is typically confidential, not made public. So the correct understanding is that nurses must report these specific concerns to the appropriate state agencies, not based on patient request, not for all illnesses publicly, and not as optional.