Page 122 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

Early detection allows for timely intervention, referral to mental health specialists, and the

development of appropriate care plans.

Nurses are also responsible for ongoing monitoring and management of mental health conditions.

This includes administering and monitoring psychiatric medications, observing side effects, and
evaluating treatment effectiveness. In prison settings, where stressors are constant, nurses must

regularly reassess mental status and adjust care plans accordingly in collaboration with

psychiatrists and multidisciplinary teams.

A critical aspect of nursing care is suicide and self-harm prevention. Prisoners with mental
disorders are at significantly higher risk of self-injury and suicide, particularly during early

detention periods. Nurses play a key role in risk assessment, crisis intervention, close observation,

and emotional support. They also educate prison staff on recognizing warning signs and
responding appropriately.

Nurses act as advocates for prisoners’ health and human rights.

They must ensure that clinical decisions are based solely on health needs and not influenced by

punishment, security measures, or institutional pressure.

Advocacy includes speaking up when care is delayed or denied, challenging discriminatory

practices, and ensuring that prisoners receive care equivalent to that available in the community.

In custodial environments, nurses often face ethical dilemmas, especially in institutions with harsh

conditions.

In such cases, nurses have a professional duty to maintain ethical integrity, refuse participation in

inhumane or degrading treatment, and report abuses when they occur.

This role requires moral courage and is supported by professional codes of ethics and international

human rights standards.

111 Academic Year 2025/2026