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Learning Objective 1: Describe and compare three of the most significant characteristics with ethical implications found in the Human Rights Authority investigatory reports.
Learning Objective 2: Identify three ethical implications of the research findings to psychiatric nursing practice.
Psychiatric nurses have a vital role in promoting, advocating, and striving to protect the health, safety, and rights of their patients. During psychiatric hospitalization, the human rights of patients are protected by the state’s mental health code. In Illinois, the Human Rights Authority (HRA) Guardianship and Advocacy Commission exists to conduct investigations of complaints of violations of the rights of persons with disabilities and mental illness. The purpose of this study is to describe and compare, in an exploratory manner, the characteristics found in the HRA investigatory reports and to determine significant implications for psychiatric nursing practice. A cross sectional analysis of 135 HRA investigatory reports was completed. Each of the 135 HRA reports were retrieved and reviewed. Relevant information from each report was extracted, coded for analysis, and entered into a coding protocol. SPSS was utilized for statistical analysis. Significant findings related to the investigatory reports of the HRA will be shared in this presentation including the most frequent rights violation allegations and substantiations. The dissemination of these important findings hold significant ethical implications for psychiatric nursing practice.