Nursing Commons^™

Point Of Care Testing: Best Practice Toolkit For Improving Access To Point Of Care Testing In Mobile Medicine, Michaela Gist

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Healthcare for persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) is a complex issue. Chronic and communicable diseases are disproportionately represented within this population. Healthcare spending is 2.5 times more costly in comparison to those who have not experienced homelessness. Although mobile health clinics aim to reduce the concerns with access to care, they do not eliminate barriers if the appropriate tests are not immediately available.

PICO: In the homeless population treated in mobile medicine (P), what is the effect of point of care testing (I) on turnaround time (O) compared with outside laboratory testing (C)?

Evidence: Critical analysis of the literature …

The Clinical Healthcare Provided To Homeless Communities Across The United States: A Literature Review, Saylor Sisemore

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Homelessness has become a global public health concern as it results in poorer physical and mental health than age-matched people living in permanent housing (Ortiz & Roser, 2017). The area that comprises Northwest Arkansas (NWA), like other areas of the United States experiencing rapid growth, has seen a marked increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in recent years. The homeless population is one of the most vulnerable and underserved groups of individuals in NWA and beyond. Public health nursing as a discipline is dedicated to providing compassionate care and exceptional service for all members of communities, with special …

Self-Healing With Reiki For Homeless Individuals Suffering From Past Traumatic Events, Kathryn Piha

Theses and Graduate Projects

Living with symptoms that resemble PTSD from past trauma can be detrimental to health, healing, and quality of life. Symptoms that resemble PTSD are intrusive and disruptive to daily life and can cause anxiety, vivid flashbacks and nightmares, and intense memories. Homeless individuals navigate challenges and are at increased risk for developing symptoms that resemble PTSD. This project explored Reiki as a healing modality to improve health, healing, and quality of life from the negative implications of past traumatic experiences. Guided by Martha Roher's SUHB Theory, this project connects Reiki with energy as healing. Understanding energy and energy fields can …

Integration Of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (Sane’S) Care Program, Erin B. Mehta

Theses and Graduate Projects

Sexual assault is a public health issue, especially for individuals experiencing homelessness, violence, and victimization. Barriers to post-sexual assault health care must be addressed to ensure individuals experiencing homelessness receive effective and adequate care. Traditionally found in Emergency Departments, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) offer patient-centered, comprehensive health care to sexual assault survivors. To reduce barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness, SANEs must be accessible where health care services are utilized. Guided by Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and trauma-informed principles, this project aims to embed a SANE program into a homeless-specific Midwest Health Care Center. The SANE program will …

Screening For Human Trafficking: Best Practice Guidelines And Recommendations For Health Care Providers, Bernadette Portillo

Student Scholarly Projects

Human trafficking (HT) is a federal and international crime and is regarded as one of the most pressing human rights issues. Adult and minor victims are trafficked by force (rape, beatings, confinement), fraud, and coercion resulting in profound physical and psychological injuries (Chisolm-Straker et al., 2019, p. 72; Department of Homeland Security, 2020; Vera Institute of Justice, 2014, p. 6). Most clinicians fail to recognize HT victims (Egyud et al., 2017; Leslie, 2018; Mason, 2018; McDow & Dols, 2020; Mostajabian et al., 2019; Patient Safety Monitor Journal, 2017; Stevens & Dinkle, 2020). This policy brief’s purpose is to provide health …

A Proposal To Implement Assertive Community Treatment Into A Primary Care Shelter Clinic, Julie Churcher-Fields

Theses and Graduate Projects

Individuals who are experiencing homelessness and severe mental illness have a difficult time accessing healthcare systems. Without mental health treatment and stable housing, individuals develop multiple needs that must be addressed during an individual visit. Without treatment for mental health symptoms, individuals may experience a negative impact on their quality of life and the ability to get basic needs met. Community organizations have an obligation to provide integrated care with a goal to improve overall health for this population. As nurse leaders there is an opportunity to be advocates and implement innovative ideas to improve care. In a large adult …

Improving The Rate Of Hand Hygiene Immediately Before And After Wound Care In The Street Nurse Microsystem, Amanda Ramos Sandoval

Master's Projects and Capstones

The street nurse team of Sacramento, CA provides many services to patients who are experiencing homelessness, including a substantial amount of wound care. While the street nurses were performing hand hygiene (HH) prior to and after wound care, they would often not be performing it immediately prior and post-wound care. Because the nurses hike to their patients (who are living on the streets or in out of the way camps) the street nurses would often perform hand hygiene while at their cars prior to going to the patient and again when they returned to their cars after performing wound care. …

Exploring The Homeless Persons Perception Of Living In A Long-Term Care Facility, Janice Woods

Dissertations

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of homeless persons admitted to a nursing home facility. Originally, the study was to explore their understanding of and their experience with advance health care planning; coincidently, the participants were more open to their experience of living in a long-term care facility.

Method:A convenience sample of 13 participants (12 male, 1 female) at four long-term care facilities in Southern California were interviewed about their perception of advanced health care planning, including the physician’s orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST); a consent form required in all nursing homes. …

Social Inclusion For Women Experiencing Homelessness, Jenna Richards

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: People experiencing homelessness have been described as one of the most socially excluded groups in society due to their inequitable access to basic necessities (Everett 2009; Labonte, 2004). Particular consideration regarding social inclusion should be given to the unique vulnerabilities of sub-populations of those experiencing homelessness, such as women (Wesely & Wright, 2005) due to their increased rates of ‘hidden homelessness’ (Walsh et al., 2009) and experiences of violence and discrimination (Roschelle, 2017; Weiser et al., 2009). Community participation, particularly sports activities, have been cited as one method towards increasing social inclusion among people experiencing homelessness. However, differential access …

Gender And Experiences Of Family Homelessness, Fawziah Almalki

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

BACKGROUND: Family homelessness is a growing issue in Canada. Families have been reported as the most rapidly increasing population of emergency shelter users. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of family homelessness in A mid-sized Canadian city and, in particular, the role that gender plays in these experiences.

METHODS: This project was a secondary analysis situated within a critical theoretical perspective. The data for this study, consisting of 4 focus groups, 36 family member participants interviews, and 10 shelter staff members interviews, was extracted from a primary study that focused on diversion from family homelessness. Qualitative …

Open Space, Thin Blankets, And Snores: An Examination Of Sleep In Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Claire Olivia Moore

Honors Projects

Sleep has been identified as a public health concern, especially among college students and young adults, which are defined here as adults ages 18-25 years old. Individuals who are homeless also face specific challenges to getting high quality, restful sleep. The purpose of this review is to investigate the potential health burden of impaired sleep quality in young adults experiencing homelessness. The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Ebscohost, Medline, Google Scholar, and PsychInfo databases were searched using the following terms independently and in combination: sleep, sleep quality, young adults, college students, emerging adults, sleep hygiene, homeless, …

A Journey Through Homelessness: A Photovoice Project With Youth Experiencing Homelessness In Minnesota, Bonnie D. Paulsen

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to conduct a photovoice project with youth experiencing homelessness who frequent a drop-in center in the Midwest. Youth experiencing homelessness are a marginalized population whose numbers continue to grow. Photovoice is a method by which marginalized populations have an opportunity to express their lived experiences through photographs and what those photographs mean to them. Four youth from the drop-in center in the Midwest participated in the photovoice project. The youths were given cameras and instructions to take photographs of three broad areas: what homelessness means to them, their dreams for their futures and how …

Mammography Utilization In African American Women, April D. Kidd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Breast cancer presents differently among women causing breast cancer health disparities with women of color disproportionally shouldering later-stage screening, incidence, and treatment, and greater mortality. This study assessed 10 predictors and rates of recent and long-term mammography utilization for women 43-79 years of age to better understand differences among age strata and races. This was the first study to use both the calculated Gail Risk scores (calculates absolute breast cancer risk over time intervals) from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and a temporary homelessness variable in predicting mammography utilization using national-level data.

Theoretical Framework: A modified Behavioral …

Comparison Of Housed And Homeless Patients With An Orthopedic Diagnosis, Susan M. Williams

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Studies on homelessness have shown that people who are homeless are admitted to hospital more frequently, for longer periods of time, and at a younger age than people who are housed. Once admitted to hospital, discharge planning is difficult and resource intensive, often leading to discharge back to the streets or a shelter. This puts this population at risk for complications and readmission. Although people who are homeless are prone to orthopedic injuries, there is no research on the outcomes of patients who are homeless with orthopedic injuries. This retrospective, case control study, based on the social determinants of health, …

The Lived Experience Of Transitioning From The Foster Care System To Adulthood, Carla Renee Parker

Doctoral Dissertations

Approximately 408,000 children were in foster care in the United States at the end of fiscal year 2010 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Some children return to their families of origin; however, some children remain in the foster care system until they reach age 18 or 21 and must leave, which is called “emancipation” or “aging out” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). Transitioning foster youth are at risk for many negative consequences including poverty and homelessness. These negative consequences are associated with significant health implications, such as mental health problems and risky sexual behaviors. …

Feeding The Homeless Through Collaboration: A Proposal For Consideration, Valetta M. Johnson Massaquoi

Theses and Graduate Projects

The homeless are faced with many challenges of adverse nutritional deficiencies that predispose them to several illnesses commonly associated with the lack of adequate nutrition and the frequent utilizations of health care resources. Provision of nutritious food for the homeless can help decrease the prevalence of these identifiable markers and can be accomplished by u collaborative effort. The purpose of this project is to describe a collaboration between Regions Hospital and the Dorothy Day Center to provide supplemental nutrition for the homeless. Leininger's culture care diversity and universality theory along with culture care accommodation/negotiation are used as a theoretical framework …

Client-Provider Relationships In A Community Health Clinic For People Experiencing Homelessness: A Critical Ethnography, Abram Oudshoorn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

People who are experiencing homelessness have the highest rates of morbidity, and the lowest age of mortality in Canada. The importance of health care relationships in addressing the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness has been demonstrated. However, two gaps still exist in the literature. Firstly, the dialectical relationship between space/place and social relations has been neglected in the context of health care and homelessness. Secondly, there is a dearth of research on the role of formal and informal policies on the enactment of client-provider relationships in this context. Therefore, in this study three research questions are addressed: 1) …