Vulnerable Population Essay

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Vulnerable Population in Current Even NURsing Vulnerable Population in Current Events Vulnerability is a general concept meaning “susceptibility,” and its specific connotation in terms of health care is “at risk for health problems.” According to Aday (2001). 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. However, the notion of a vulnerable population is a public health concept that refers to vulnerability by virtue of status; that is, some groups are at risk at any given point in time relative to other individuals or groups. According to a study by the U.S. Department of housing and Urban Development (HUD), there were 671,888 homeless people in the United States as of January 2007, including sheltered and unsheltered population. HUD defines homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The number of homeless fluctuates with the health of the economy (2011). Homelessness raises the susceptibility to disaster events. Some of the barriers that may prevent these groups from obtaining needed services are: The lack of health insurance, a home, financial problem, mental illness and physical inability to do for themselves. The homeless may have chronic illness, but never go to any Doctor. They have fewer resources and access to health care, physical and mental illness that make responding to health issue difficult. I have encounter many homeless patient in the facility I work, but this patient impact my nursing career. Mr John is a 50 years old African-American who weighs 250 lb. He is admitted the med-surg unit for observation after presenting to the emergency department (ED) with dizziness, confusion, visual disturbances, frequent
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