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Running head: VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

Vulnerable Populations Amanda Badgley NURS 340

2 VULNERABLE POPULATIONS Vulnerable Populations There are several vulnerable populations that a community or public health nurse serves. Being a vulnerable population is, lacking sufficient ability to advance health and wellness, along with a greater need to look to others for solutions, (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012). The homeless population is considered a vulnerable population due to their powerlessness and lack or resources. The homeless population has many stigmas and biases towards them regarding why they are homeless. Everyone has made stereotypes about a certain group of people before, but after learning more about them those stereotypes might change. Learning about the homeless vulnerable population and changing ones perceptions about this group of people could help change the delivery of health care to the homeless. Personal Biases Each person has their own set personal biases and attitudes towards the homeless. I know that in the past I have always assumed that the homeless are dirty people who are drug users or drug dealers. I also was always under the impression that most homeless people are lazy and have no ambition to go out and get a job to make a better life for themselves or their families. When I look at a homeless person, I always wonder if that person has mental illness or is handicapped in some way. I have always carried generally a negative attitude towards homeless people and I am not very proud of that fact. Research Demographics After much research involving the homeless population, I have learned a few things about this vulnerable population. There are many factors that can contribute to a person becoming homeless. These factors include (but are not limited to): Poverty, lack of

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affordable housing, job loss, lack of health care, mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence, (Front Steps, 2013). Just because the person is homeless, doesnt necessarily meant that are lazy and do not want to work. Persons living in poverty are most at risk of

becoming homeless, and demographic groups who are more likely to experience poverty are also more likely to experience homelessness, (National Coalition for the Homeless,
2009). Homelessness is not a choice for many families. Unemployment and unforeseen financial strain leads to homelessness for many families. Typically, families become homeless as a result of some unforeseen financial crisis - a medical emergency, a car accident, a death in the family that prevents them from being able to hold on to housing, (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2013).

Self-Reflection After much research, I do have a different outlook towards the homeless population. I believe that anyone can become homeless given the right circumstances, and the stigmas towards this vulnerable population need to change. The stigmas carried with the homeless population can be seen with the delivery of health care. Many nurses make assumptions about homeless patients without knowing anything about the patient. Being aware of this bias is extremely important for improving the delivery of health care. Nurses should be educated on how biases have a negative effect on vulnerable populations, and policies should be put into place to help ensure quality care for all populations. Overall, vulnerable populations are evident is all areas of health care. People may be homeless for a variety of reasons, and they should be treated equally in health care. A nurses personal biases towards a group of people should never interfere with the quality

4 VULNERABLE POPULATIONS of care a patient receives. After learning about a vulnerable population, ones attitudes towards the group might change for the better.

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Front Steps. (2013). Facts about homelessness in the u.s.. Retrieved from http://www.frontsteps.org/how-to-help/advocate/facts-us-homelessness Harkness, G. A., & DeMarco, R. F. (2012). Community and public health nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2013). Snapshot of homelessness. Retrieved from http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness National Coalition for the Homeless. (2009). Who is homeless?. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Whois.pdf