Clinical Simulation in Nursing, cilt.112, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Background: Child neglect and abuse are major public health concerns, and nurses play a critical role in early recognition. Simulation-based training is a promising method to strengthen knowledge and preparedness. Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted with 20 nurses working in a pediatric emergency unit of a state hospital between March and April 2024. Data were collected using a socio-demographic form and the “Scale for Determining the Knowledge Level of Nurses and Midwives in Diagnosing the Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect.” Nurses participated in simulation-based training with a structured scenario, followed by debriefing and posttest. Results: Knowledge scores significantly increased after training, particularly in recognizing physical and behavioral symptoms of abuse. However, improvements were limited in identifying children at higher risk of neglect and abuse. Conclusion: Simulation-based training enhances nurses’ knowledge of child abuse recognition and should be integrated into nursing education and in-service programs to improve clinical preparedness.