Final answer:
The signs that should alert the nurse to possible abuse are round burn marks on forearms and areas of ecchymosis on the torso. While other findings such as abrasions or mismatched clothing could be benign, patterns and locations of injuries like round burns and bruises raise concerns for non-accidental trauma.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a preschool-age child for possible abuse, nurses and other healthcare professionals should be alert for several warning indicators. From the options given, the findings that should alert the nurse to possible abuse include the following:
- Round burn marks on forearms which could indicate injuries from cigarettes or other small, hot objects typically used in inflicted burns.
- Areas of ecchymosis (bruising) on the torso that are inconsistent with normal childhood injury patterns, especially if the bruises are in various stages of healing or if the child cannot provide an adequate explanation for the injuries.
The other options provided such as abrasions on the knees, mismatched clothing, and abdominal rebound tenderness, while they may require further exploration, are not as specifically indicative of abuse. Abrasions on knees can be common in children due to normal play, mismatched clothing may not necessarily signify neglect or abuse, and abdominal rebound tenderness may be related to the child's reported abdominal pain and not necessarily abuse.
Physical abuse in children may come in several forms such as beating, burning, or hitting with objects. Healthcare professionals are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse. Observing the patterns and locations of injuries can often help differentiate between accidental injuries and those potentially caused by abuse.