NURS FPX 4015 Assessment 4 Caring for Special Population Teaching Presentation
Student Name
Capella University
NURS FPX 4015 A4
Professor’s Name
Submission Date
Caring for Special Population Teaching Presentation
Slide 1
Hi, my name is……., Today I’m going to speak about special populations, homeless/housing insecure populations.
Slide 2
The care of culturally competent nursing care is still essential for delivering appropriate health care solutions to homeless and housing-insecure individuals. Homelessness affects individuals’ health care access, leading to higher prevalence of chronic diseases, mental health problems, and infectious diseases (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). Nurses have the opportunity to address health disparities by utilizing evidence-based patient-centered strategies that center on trust and providing accessible, compassionate care. In this presentation, we will explore homeless healthcare needs, their inequitable treatment, and cultural needs, and will showcase some helpful nursing practices for the delivery of fair and effective healthcare.
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Population Group and Their Healthcare Needs
Homelessness and housing insecurity are made up of a diverse population of people with mental illness, financial problems, families, and veterans. People experiencing homelessness can be defined as those who do not have a fixed, regular nighttime residence while staying in a shelter, transitional housing, or in a car, a bus or train, an abandoned building, or a public building or place, such as a hospital or mental health facility (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). Housing insecurity is a term used to describe people who are at risk of becoming homeless due to financial issues, moving frequently, or living too close together. The constant switching of housing from shelters to other insecure environments negatively impacts access to care and exacerbates acute and chronic health issues.
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Because of their lack of coverage, homeless people often suffer from chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. Non-compliance with drugs and medication and harsh weather conditions are combined with poor nutrition, which hastens the progression of the disease (Mejia-Lancheros et al., 2020). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), peripheral neuropathy, and lower extremity amputation are some examples of complications of uncontrolled diabetes, while stroke and heart failure are some examples of complications of uncontrolled Hypertension. Environmental pollution, smoking, and exposure to repeated cold weather worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death.
Shelter overcrowding increases homeless persons’ vulnerability to infectious diseases due to insufficient sanitation. Homeless individuals suffer more from tuberculosis, hepatitis, and COVID-19 infection than other people, resulting in higher death rates (Tsai & Wilson, 2020). Homeless individuals are often affected by depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse disorders. Homeless people have been less likely to use medical services because of their experience of trauma, abuse, and systemic neglect. Integrated prevention programs and early detection with person-centered coordinated services are needed to address the healthcare needs of this population.
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Culturally Sensitive Nursing Strategies
To provide culturally competent nursing care to homeless people, it is necessary to know about the unique challenges and cultural experiences of these individuals. Trauma-informed care is beneficial for equitable care delivery as it allows healthcare providers to be more aware of how past trauma can impact patient behaviors and medical service engagement. Trauma-informed care practices create safe environments that are open for patients, as well as active listening techniques and experiences validation (Barry et al., 2023). Nurses should not use stigmatizing language as they assess patients’ barriers to care, such as issues of medication storage and survival being more important than health management. Creating trust and showing empathy between nurse and patient is a practice that increases patients’ involvement in their treatments.
Medication access and management are a substantial challenge for homeless people due to financial, cognitive, and storage issues. To advocate for the use of long-acting medications, nurses will support monthly injectable antipsychotics in individuals with schizophrenia, and extended release antihypertensive in those with unstable living conditions (Adams et al., 2020). Healthcare providers who make medications easier to take and do not require refrigeration, and simplify medication regimens, enhance treatment adherence. Properly educated patients can become active players in their healthcare management during periods of instability if they are informed of and educated about the various treatment options and ways of risk reduction.
Street medicine services are useful strategies to improve healthcare services for homeless people when they are mobile, moving between multiple locations. Those living in homelessness prefer to avoid traditional health care settings due to adverse experiences, extended wait times, and challenges with transportation (Gutman et al., 2024). Mobile health units deliver health care services at encampments, drop-in centers, and shelters, where individuals receive services focused on chronic disease management, wound care, and substance use counseling in addition to preventive services. Boston Health Care for the Homeless program has been a successful model whose primary care is delivered in community-based settings, resulting in better health outcomes (Koh et al., 2020). Healthcare models that offer flexibility in appointment times, such as walk-in clinics and same-day appointments, offer medical care convenience for individuals who experience homelessness by meeting ongoing medical care needs.
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Physical Assessment Findings
Physical evaluations must be conducted since people who are homeless are more likely to delay health care until their condition is serious. Nurses should examine for skin infections, wounds, frostbite, and foot problems that are caused by long hours of walking and possibly wearing inappropriate footwear. A patient’s overall health needs can be understood by assessing their dehydration and malnutrition. Mental health assessments are equally critical because homeless people often have depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders that can compromise their capacity to take care of themselves and follow instructions (Adams et al., 2020). Establishing a consistent point of contact can further strengthen the therapeutic relationship over time. No judgement builds trust between healthcare providers and patients, resulting in disclosure of health concerns. Wound care, hydration, and mental health referrals are key activities that nurses conduct in health care settings as they perform physical and mental health screenings that will have a positive impact on chronic disease outcomes.
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Diversity within the Special Population Group
Homeless individuals are diverse, with a wide variety of ethnic or racial backgrounds, age, gender, health status, etc. Nurses need to be sensitive to cultural differences in caring for patients and plan interventions based on theirpatients’s needs. The use of person-centered language is a key aspect of culturally sensitive care (CSC) (Murray et al., 2024). Nurses need to use the phrase a person experiencing homelessness rather than homeless, as this emphasizes human nature and prevents defining homelessness by conditions. For nurses to make informed assumptions and provide individual care, it is important to understand the underlying causes of homelessness, such as unemployment, domestic violence, disability, and systemic inequities.
Homeless LGBTQ+ people face a higher risk of health issues due to discrimination against them in shelters and health care facilities. The barriers that transgender people face when trying to get necessary gender-affirming healthcare prevent them from receiving treatment at proper times, thus resulting in poorer health outcomes. Use of the correct pronouns, shelter advocacy, offering access to hormone therapy, and mental health services can all help to create an inclusive environment for nurses (Gutman et al., 2024). Likewise, the treatment of the homeless elderly requires special care, since they tend to be biologically accelerated in the process of reaching adulthood and their medical problems and mobility are on the rise. Fall prevention programs, geriatric-friendly access to shelter, and specialized care for chronic disease management for unique patient needs are all important components of the provision of equitable care (Koh et al., 2020). The health care system must recognize the unique nature of homeless people and provide dignified and effective health care services.
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Conclusion
A healthy home and homeless people in general are especially in need of culturally competent healthcare services because of the disparities in healthcare services they face. By employing trauma-informed care practices, offering mobile healthcare services, improving healthcare systems’ adaptability, and fostering collaboration among different healthcare providers, nurses can foster trust and positively impact health outcomes and reduce healthcare barriers. An understanding of homelessness and its root causes ensures that person-centred healthcare respects, includes, a nd improves access to health services for people who experience homelessness. The focus on evidence-based practices solidifies nurses’ roles as protectors of vulnerable communities by upholding justice and equity.
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References
Adams, M. P., Holland, L. N., & Urban, C. Q. (2020). Pharmacology for nurses: A pathophysiologic approach (6th ed.). Pearson. https://www.pearsonhighered.com/assets/preface/0/1/3/5/0135218330.pdf
Barry, A., Hoffman, E., Martinez‐Charleston, E., DeMario, M., Stewart, J., Mohiuddin, M. I., Mihelicova, M., & Brown, M. (2023). Trauma‐informed interactions within a trauma‐informed homeless service provider: Staff and client perspectives. Journal of Community Psychology, 52(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23102
Gutman, S., Choi, A., Kearney, A., & Swarbrick, M. (2024). Understanding the needs of gender-diverse youth and young adults and their staff members in homeless shelters and supported housing. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(3), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2230
Koh, K. A., Racine, M., Gaeta, J. M., Goldie, J., Martin, D. P., Bock, B., Takach, M., O’Connell, J. J., & Song, Z. (2020). Health care spending and use among people experiencing unstable housing in the era of Accountable Care Organizations. Health Affairs, 39(2), 214–223. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00687
Mejia-Lancheros, C., Lachaud, J., Nisenbaum, R., Wang, A., Stergiopoulos, V., Hwang, S. W., & O’Campo, P. (2020). Dental problems and chronic diseases in mentally ill homeless adults: A cross-sectional study. Bio Med Central Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08499-7
Murray, C., Varma, A., & Natalie Jomini Stroud. (2024). The impact of using person-centered language to reference stigmatized groups in news coverage. SAGE, 25(11). https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849241228955
Sleet, D. A., & Francescutti, L. H. (2021). Homelessness and public health: A focus on strategies and solutions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21). National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111660
Tsai, J., & Wilson, M. (2020). COVID-19: A potential public health problem for homeless populations. The Lancet Public Health, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(20)30053-0