Reasearch Paper-Barriers Among Homeless Youth
Barriers Among Homeless Youth In Health Care
Sebastian Henao
Conestoga College
Homelessness amongst youth is common in nearly every part of the world, including the region of Waterloo. Given these circumstances many young adults have barriers that they must overcome in a daily basis in order to stay alive. Some of these barriers include substance abuse, sexual intercourse and poor access to health care. All of these barriers can potentially harm a young person’s life. So how can nurses help the homeless youth from overcoming these barriers? A review form “Health-Seeking Challenges Among Homeless Youth” suggests that information on healthcare services and assistance to homeless youth, is key for their wellbeing.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2009, 10 to 20 youth in Waterloo Region are experiencing persistent homelessness and at least 75 are at-risk. These youth are more likely to engage in risky behaviour due to barriers they experience every day. Even though the research of, “Health-Seeking Challenges Among Homeless Youth” was done in the United States, as nurses, we can still incorporate their message into our practice, the research was done to determine what were the biggest barriers homeless youth encountered in healthcare services. Do to this research nurses can plan ways to ensure the wellness of homeless youth and ensure these barriers don’t take place.
As nurses we are taught that our patients deserve the best care possible, disregarding age or social status. “Rather than provide resources for homeless youth, youth frequently were confronted with unforgettable comments that were full of judgment.” (Hudson et al.,2010) It is important that as nurses we are open and not make judgements in order to provide the best client care possible, this is seen as a barrier to homeless youth that feel like whenever they go to a clinic they are being discriminated.
The different barriers that homeless youth encounter on a daily basis
Sebastian Henao
Conestoga College
Homelessness amongst youth is common in nearly every part of the world, including the region of Waterloo. Given these circumstances many young adults have barriers that they must overcome in a daily basis in order to stay alive. Some of these barriers include substance abuse, sexual intercourse and poor access to health care. All of these barriers can potentially harm a young person’s life. So how can nurses help the homeless youth from overcoming these barriers? A review form “Health-Seeking Challenges Among Homeless Youth” suggests that information on healthcare services and assistance to homeless youth, is key for their wellbeing.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2009, 10 to 20 youth in Waterloo Region are experiencing persistent homelessness and at least 75 are at-risk. These youth are more likely to engage in risky behaviour due to barriers they experience every day. Even though the research of, “Health-Seeking Challenges Among Homeless Youth” was done in the United States, as nurses, we can still incorporate their message into our practice, the research was done to determine what were the biggest barriers homeless youth encountered in healthcare services. Do to this research nurses can plan ways to ensure the wellness of homeless youth and ensure these barriers don’t take place.
As nurses we are taught that our patients deserve the best care possible, disregarding age or social status. “Rather than provide resources for homeless youth, youth frequently were confronted with unforgettable comments that were full of judgment.” (Hudson et al.,2010) It is important that as nurses we are open and not make judgements in order to provide the best client care possible, this is seen as a barrier to homeless youth that feel like whenever they go to a clinic they are being discriminated.
The different barriers that homeless youth encounter on a daily basis
References: First Call Bc (2012). Resources on the Mental Health of Homeless youth in Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2012 from http://firstcallbc.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/resources-on-the-mental-health-of-homeless-youth-in-canada/ Hudson, A., Nyamthi, A., Greengold, B., Slagle, A., Koniak-Griffin, D., Khalilifard, F., & Getzoff, D. (2010). Health seeking challenges among homeless youth. Nursing Research, 59(3), 212-218. National Alliance to End Homelessness (2009). New Funding for Homeless Youth Services and Housing – Guide to Community Planners and Youth Advocates. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from www.endhomelessness.org/section/policy/focusareas/youth. Region of Waterloo (2010). Social planning, policy and program administration. Retrieved September 22, 2012, from http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/regionalGovernment/resources/SA2010-0406.pdf