Final answer:
Whistleblowers who report nursing home abuse are protected under various acts and regulations, which compel federal agencies to protect them from retaliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whistleblowers who report nursing home abuse are protected under various acts and regulations. For example, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 all provide protections for whistleblowers who speak out against institutional abuse. These acts compel federal agencies to protect whistleblowers who reasonably perceive that an institution or its people are acting inappropriately.