Mandatory reporting of abuse: practical, moral, and legal issues for psychiatric home healthcare nurses.

Psychiatric home healthcare nurses (PHHNs) work directly with clients and their families in the community and serve as consultants to other home health nurses when concerns of mental health arise. They must be able to identify areas of possible or actual family violence or abuse and intervene appropriately. They must be cognizant of the laws regarding abuse reporting in their states. Decisions to report abuse are practical and moral and, when combined with legal imperatives, create ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals. Guidelines are presented to help PHHNs understand the complex issues associated with mandatory reporting of abuse.