A community mental health nurse is assigned to investigate the frequent school absences of an 11-year-old child. The nurse finds the child home alone, caring for his 1- and 3-year-old siblings. The house is cluttered and dirty, and both parents are at work. The child tells the nurse that whenever his mother is called to work at her part-time job, he must watch the kids because the family cannot afford a babysitter. Based on the information obtained thus far, what preliminary assessment can be made?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The child and his siblings are experiencing neglect. Neglect is defined as failure to provide for a child's basic needs, such as supervision, food, shelter, and medical care. In this scenario, the child is left alone to care for his younger siblings, indicating a lack of appropriate supervision and care from the parents. The house being cluttered and dirty further suggests neglect in terms of living conditions.
Choice A is incorrect because the child is not coping well; rather, he is forced into a caretaker role beyond his developmental capacity. Choice C is incorrect as there is no information provided to suggest sexual abuse. Choice D is incorrect as there is no evidence of physical abuse in the scenario.