Bruising is the most common—and often overlooked—sign of physical child abuse. This presentation introduces the TEN-4-FACESp bruising rule, a validated screening tool to help forensic nurses and Emergency nurse practitioners identify high-risk injury patterns in infants and young children. Attendees will gain practical skills to recognize concerning findings, differentiate accidental from non-accidental trauma, and take appropriate next steps to protect vulnerable patients.
Learning Objectives:- Describe the components of the TEN-4-FACESp bruising rule and its role in identifying potential physical child abuse.
- Differentiate between bruising patterns and locations suggestive of accidental versus non-accidental injury in young children.
- Apply evidence-based approaches to assessment, documentation, and reporting when child abuse is suspected in the emergency setting.
