Vulnerable Population Research Paper
Vulnerable Populations and Self-Awareness
NUR/440
October 29, 2012
Dawn Talbert MSN, RN, BC-FNP
Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Vulnerable populations are those with a greater-than-average risk of developing health problems (Aday, 2001; Sebastian, 1996) by virtue of their marginalized sociocultural status, their limited access to economic resources, or their personal characteristics such as age and gender (de Chesnay & Anderson, 2012, p. 5). Individuals with behavioral health concerns include even those with mild illness like anxiety and depression. Activities of daily living and interpersonal relationships are seriously affected by those with severe emotional disorders (de Chesnay & Anderson, 2012, p. 7). We have …show more content…
The symptoms associated with schizophrenia are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior and negative symptoms like flat affect, lack of facial expressions, and inattention to basic self-care needs (National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Mental Health, 2005). There are other criteria that must be met before a diagnosis can be rendered however these are more commonly associated with the diagnosis. Schizophrenia usually starts between the ages of 16 and 30, equally affects men and women, and occurs at similar rates across all ethnic groups (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). Worldwide prevalence estimates range between 0.5% and 1%. In the United States, 1.1% of the population is affected (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …show more content…
In the past I have had negative connotations about working with anyone who had mental illness. This negativity was the result of a personal incident; the death of a friend’s sister who worked in a mental health institution. The sister was murdered at work, in her office, by an inpatient. He walked out of the office after killing her and locked the door. The facility staff did not find her until the next day despite the pleas of her family to look for her. After that incident, I said I would never willingly work with the mentally ill. I had no specific reservations about people with schizophrenia in particular. At that point, all “crazy” people were the same to me. I guess that I thought they all have a propensity for violence toward others and
NUR/440
October 29, 2012
Dawn Talbert MSN, RN, BC-FNP
Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Vulnerable populations are those with a greater-than-average risk of developing health problems (Aday, 2001; Sebastian, 1996) by virtue of their marginalized sociocultural status, their limited access to economic resources, or their personal characteristics such as age and gender (de Chesnay & Anderson, 2012, p. 5). Individuals with behavioral health concerns include even those with mild illness like anxiety and depression. Activities of daily living and interpersonal relationships are seriously affected by those with severe emotional disorders (de Chesnay & Anderson, 2012, p. 7). We have …show more content…
The symptoms associated with schizophrenia are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior and negative symptoms like flat affect, lack of facial expressions, and inattention to basic self-care needs (National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Mental Health, 2005). There are other criteria that must be met before a diagnosis can be rendered however these are more commonly associated with the diagnosis. Schizophrenia usually starts between the ages of 16 and 30, equally affects men and women, and occurs at similar rates across all ethnic groups (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). Worldwide prevalence estimates range between 0.5% and 1%. In the United States, 1.1% of the population is affected (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …show more content…
In the past I have had negative connotations about working with anyone who had mental illness. This negativity was the result of a personal incident; the death of a friend’s sister who worked in a mental health institution. The sister was murdered at work, in her office, by an inpatient. He walked out of the office after killing her and locked the door. The facility staff did not find her until the next day despite the pleas of her family to look for her. After that incident, I said I would never willingly work with the mentally ill. I had no specific reservations about people with schizophrenia in particular. At that point, all “crazy” people were the same to me. I guess that I thought they all have a propensity for violence toward others and