Vulnerable Population and Self Awareness Paper
Running head: VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SELF
Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Paper: Substance Abuse
Lesley Pyron
University of Phoenix
Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Paper Effective healthcare is dependent on understanding vulnerable individuals and populations with respect to biases and prejudices of healthcare providers. According to de Chesnay (2008), “Vulnerability is a general concept meaning susceptibility, and its specific connotation in terms of healthcare is at risk for health problems” (p. 3). Anyone can be vulnerable at different times in his or her life under specific circumstances. According to de Chesnay (2008), “Vulnerable populations are those at risk for poor physical, psychological, or social health. Anyone can be vulnerable at any given point in time as a result of life circumstances or response to illness or events” (p. 3). In order to render good healthcare, healthcare providers need to be aware of their own vulnerability. This paper will discuss the homeless as a vulnerable population; the demographics of the homeless; a personal awareness of the homeless including attitudes, biases, and stereotypes prior to studying homelessness; the impact of research on personal attitudes after gathering knowledge about the homeless; and how the knowledge might affect the delivery of healthcare to the homeless.
Homeless Demographics In the United States, statistics show an increase in the number of homeless people. The National Coalition for the Homeless (2008) stated: A person is considered homeless who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence; and... has a primary night time residency that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations... (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation
Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Paper: Substance Abuse
Lesley Pyron
University of Phoenix
Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Paper Effective healthcare is dependent on understanding vulnerable individuals and populations with respect to biases and prejudices of healthcare providers. According to de Chesnay (2008), “Vulnerability is a general concept meaning susceptibility, and its specific connotation in terms of healthcare is at risk for health problems” (p. 3). Anyone can be vulnerable at different times in his or her life under specific circumstances. According to de Chesnay (2008), “Vulnerable populations are those at risk for poor physical, psychological, or social health. Anyone can be vulnerable at any given point in time as a result of life circumstances or response to illness or events” (p. 3). In order to render good healthcare, healthcare providers need to be aware of their own vulnerability. This paper will discuss the homeless as a vulnerable population; the demographics of the homeless; a personal awareness of the homeless including attitudes, biases, and stereotypes prior to studying homelessness; the impact of research on personal attitudes after gathering knowledge about the homeless; and how the knowledge might affect the delivery of healthcare to the homeless.
Homeless Demographics In the United States, statistics show an increase in the number of homeless people. The National Coalition for the Homeless (2008) stated: A person is considered homeless who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence; and... has a primary night time residency that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations... (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation
References: de Chesnay, M. (2008). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in nursing theory. Retrieved August 27, 2008, from University of Phoenix, Week One, rEsource. NUR 440 Web site. Hill, R.P. (2008). Disadvantaged consumers: An ethical approach to consumption by the poor. Journal of Business Ethics, 80 (1), 77-83. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from ProQuest database. LAHSC: Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition. (2008). United States homeless statistics. Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://lahsc.org/wordpress/educate/statistics/united-states-homeless-statistics MacReady, N. (2008). House calls for homeless people in the USA. The Lancet, 371 (1), 1827-28. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from ProQuest database. National Coalition for the Homeless. (2008). Who is homeless. Retrieved August 27, 2008, from http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/who.html Talukdar, A., Roy, K., Saha, I., Mitra, J., & Detels, R. (2008). Risk behaviors of homeless men in India: A potential bridge population for HIV infection. AIDS Behavior, 12 (1), 613-22. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from ProQuest database. Wikipedia. (2008). Knowledge. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge