Reference no: EM133948190

CASE STUDY NUR 460-6C FALL 2021

NURSES IN POVERTY /STREET NURSING

You are a street nurse working in a primary care clinic located in the poorest neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. In 2018, there was an estimated 9,000 people experiencing homelessness in Toronto which includes individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, gender, race and age (City of Toronto, 2018). You are facilitating a bi-weekly program for the homeless population on social assistance that offers support like; food stamps; clothing donations; personal hygiene products; and education about harm reduction strategies and raise awareness about STDs and other human to human transmitted diseases to reduce the negative consequences of drug use and sex work. However, the program that you facilitate could not provide additional resources that are appropriate for the individuals need such as appropriate shelter, health screenings, access to immunization, secure employment, and mental health support due to lack of funding. Furthermore, you notice the lack of placement opportunities for nursing students in the community setting which could have contributed to the advancement of the program you facilitate, and this could have also offered the students a chance to experience other aspects of the nursing profession. There is acknowledgement that a broad experience of nursing students in diverse placement circuits such as in the community contributed to the attainment of personal and professional growth (Marshall & Shelton, 2012).

During group discussions, the majority of the participants attending the program expressed their concerns with regards to healthcare barriers. They mainly talk about the frequent experience of victim blaming by healthcare providers leading to patient mistrust and complicating their access to adequate health care. These common experiences of discrimination and stigmatization by the homeless population influences their inequitable access to health care which ultimately leads to a higher morbidity (Pauly, 2014).

As a street nurse, you felt the responsibility to act and speak up to address these issues.

WHAT IS STREET NURSING?

WHAT DO STREET NURSES DO?

QUESTIONS

1. How would you advocate for appropriate funding to improve the program and to continuously support the homeless population?

2. As a street nurse, in what ways could you support the establishment of a non judgemental and accepting space for the homeless population to address their concerns of stereotypes and discriminations?

3. What do you think needs to be changed or added in the curriculum development of nursing education to allow more opportunities in the community setting for nursing students to engage with the homeless or low income population?