Chapter 21: Vulnerability And Vulnerable Populations: An Overview Flashcards
Vulnerability
Susceptibility to actual or potential stressors that may lead to an adverse effect.
Vulnerability results from
The interaction of internal and external factors that cause a person to be susceptible to poor health.
Vulnerable Populations
Those groups with increased risk for adverse health outcomes
Health disparities
The wide variations in health services and health status among certain population groups
Vulnerable Populations are more likely to
- Develop health problems as a result of exposure risk or to have worse outcomes from those health problems than the population as a whole
- Be more sensitive to risk factors because they are often exposures to cumulative risk factors
- Suffer from health disparities
Vulnerability results from
The combined effects of limited physical, environmental, personal resources and biopsychosocial resources
Factors Contributing to Vulnerability include
Social Determinants of Health
Health Status
Social Determinants of Health
Factors that lead to resource constraints, poor health, and health risk.
Nursing interventions for social determinants of health are designed to
help vulnerable populations gain the resources needed for better health and reduction of risk factors.
Social Determinants of Health include
Economic status Education Environmental factors Nutrition Stress Prejudice
Health Status includes
Age
Changes in normal physiology
Outcomes of vulnerability
Can be negative (lower health status) or positive (with effective interventions).
Often have worse health outcomes than other people in terms of morbidity and mortality
Cycle to Vulnerability
Sometimes when one problem is solved, another quickly emerges
Leads to feelings of hopelessness
Public Policies Affecting Vulnerable Populations
Social Security Act of 1935
Social Security Act Amendments of 1965, Medicare, and Medicaid:
Title XXI of the Social Security Act (1997)
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
Social Security Act of 1935:
created largest federal support program for elderly and poor Americans
Social Security Act Amendments of 1965, Medicare, and Medicaid:
provided for health care needs of elderly, poor, and disabled people
Title XXI of the Social Security Act (1997)
provides for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide funds to uninsured children
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
was intended to help people keep their health insurance when moving from one place to another.
Balanced Budget Act of 1997:
influenced the use of resources for providing health services
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
has provisions for reducing the growth of future Medicare expenditures.
Nursing Approaches to Care in the community trends toward
providing more comprehensive, family-centered services when treating vulnerable population groups; family-centered “one-stop” services
Other nursing approaches to care in the community
Advocacy
Social justice
Culturally and linguistically appropriate health care
Comprehensive Services
are health services that focus on more than one health problem or concern
Wrap-around services
available comprehensive health services, and social and economic services also provided, either directly or through referrals; in this way, social and economic services that will help ensure effectiveness of health services are “wrapped around” health services
Assessment should include client evaluation of
Socioeconomic resources
Preventive health needs
Congenital and genetic predisposition to illness
Amount of stress
Living environment and neighborhood surroundings
Planning and Implementing Care for Vulnerable Populations
Create a trusting environment. Show respect, compassion, and concern. Do not make assumptions. Coordinate services and providers. Advocate for accessible health care services. Focus on prevention. Know when to “walk beside” the client and when to encourage the client to “walk ahead.” Know what resources are available. Develop your own support network.
