Chapter 23- Homeless Populations

A homeless individual asks the nurse if the problem of homelessness in the United States is improving. What is the best response by the nurse? A. "The overall prevalence of homelessness in all subpopulations of the homeless is decreasing." B. "The goal is always to improve, but there is really no way to know if the problem is better or worse." C. "Homelessness will always be an issue because there are no government initiatives to improve the problem." D. "Homelessness is only improving in the homeless veteran population due to strategic government initiatives."

A. "The overall prevalence of homelessness in all subpopulations of the homeless is decreasing."

The nurse is assessing a patient in the clinic. Which statement made by the patient reflects a dimension of the social determinant of health that contributes to homelessness? A. "There are not many places to find work where I live." B. "I am concerned because my husband may lose his job." C. "Sometimes I have trouble getting transportation to the clinic." D. "I can only get to my healthcare provider's clinic on certain days."

A. "There are not many places to find work where I live."

Which statement made by a patient reflects a dimension of the social determinants of health that are most relevant in contributing to homelessness? A. "There is not a healthcare clinic near me." B. "My family and I rely on the community food bank." C. "My husband works several jobs so we can pay the rent." D. "I was not able to finish high school because I had my first child."

A. "There is not a healthcare clinic near me."

When caring for the homeless population, the nurse understands that which factor exacerbates existing acute and chronic health problems? A. Alcohol misuse B. Unsheltered living C. Inadequate nutrition D. Lack of family support

A. Alcohol misuse

What factors contribute to the growing number of poor persons in the United States? Select all that apply. A. Decreased earnings B. Changes in the labor force C. Decreased unemployment rates D. Increased male-headed households E. Increased high-school graduation rates F. Increased children born to single women

A. Decreased earnings B. Changes in the labor force F. Increased children born to single women

The nurse is reviewing the framework for developing approaches to care for the homeless. Which are included in the framework? Select all that apply. A. Models of justice B. Thinking downstream C. Social determinants of health D. Social and community context E. Public health intervention wheel

A. Models of justice C. Social determinants of health E. Public health intervention wheel

A nursing student is presenting an overview of the homeless population. Which statements require further education? A. More women are homeless than men. B. The homeless population is hard to count accurately. C. Minorities make up less than half of the homeless population. D. The sheltered population is younger than the general population. E. A point-in-time count is conducted twice a year to estimate the homeless population.

A. More women are homeless than men. C. Minorities make up less than half of the homeless population. E. A point-in-time count is conducted twice a year to estimate the homeless population.

When caring for homeless youth, the community health nurse understands that which population may experience more health problems? Select all that apply. A. Pregnant B. Employed C. Engaged in prostitution D. Receiving government aid E. Questioning sexual orientation

A. Pregnant C. Engaged in prostitution E. Questioning sexual orientation

The nurse is preparing to screen a homeless youth. What should the nurse incorporate into plan of care for screening? Select all that apply. A. Skin disorders B. Substance misuse C. Suicidal ideation D. Intentional injuries E. Sexually transmitted infections

A. Skin disorders B. Substance misuse C. Suicidal ideation E. Sexually transmitted infections

When considering the health status of the homeless patient, the nurse understands that a continual interaction exists among which dimensions? Select all that apply. A. Social B. Mental C. Physical D. Spiritual E. Financial

A. Social B. Mental C. Physical

Which risk factors are most common among homeless youth? A. Suicide B. Pregnancy C. Depression D. History of frostbite E. Cirrhosis of the liver F. Sexually transmitted infections

A. Suicide B. Pregnancy C. Depression F. Sexually transmitted infections

A patient admitted for pneumonia states to the nurse, "I have been living on the street for the past 9 months." About which accompanying factor should the nurse be most concerned? A. The patient is HIV positive. B. The patient has a history of missing clinic visits. C. The patient does not consistently use an available shelter. D. The patient has been to the emergency room once in the previous month.

A. The patient is HIV positive.

The nurse is preparing to teach a group of colleagues about the subpopulations of people experiencing homelessness. Which populations will the nurse include? Select all that apply. A. Veterans B. Individuals C. Older adults D. Chronically homeless E. Families with children

A. Veterans D. Chronically homeless

Which components comprise trimorbidity that is often found with homelessness? A. Influenza B. Alcoholism C. Strep throat D. Mental illness E. Episodic anxiety F. Diabetes mellitus

B. Alcoholism D. Mental illness F. Diabetes mellitus

The nurse is discussing the broad dimensions of the social determinants of health. Which will be included in the discussion? Select all that apply. A. Educational level B. Economic stability C. Health and health care D. Social and community context E. Neighborhood and built environment

B. Economic stability C. Health and health care D. Social and community context E. Neighborhood and built environment

Community health nurses should consider which interventions when addressing factors contributing to homelessness? Select all that apply. A. Military service B. Health teaching C. Health screening D. Outreach programs E. Physical environment

B. Health teaching C. Health screening D. Outreach programs

The community nurse has reviewed the statistical data to prepare for the fastest growing subpopulation of homeless students. For which group will the nurse prepare? A. Migratory children B. Unaccompanied youth C. Children with disabilities D. Children with limited English proficiency

B. Unaccompanied youth

The nurse recognizes that which is a significant challenge for the healthcare systems in providing care for the homeless population? A. Inability to obtain transportation to clinics B. Use of the emergency department for care C. Inadequate availability of healthcare clinics D. Geographical inaccessibility to healthcare clinics

B. Use of the emergency department for care

Which is an example of the legal domain of homelessness? A. Living in a homeless shelter B. Working sporadically at a construction site C. Living in the basement of a family member D. Having a private bathroom in which to bathe

B. Working sporadically at a construction site

The group of public health nurses is discussing the different approaches to care for the homeless community population. Which statement supports an upstream approach? A. "Social justice is based on status, income, and happiness." B. "Market justice supports a framework of equitable health care." C. "The healthcare model is equitable when social justice is taken." D. "Market justice should be the foundational aspect of public health."

C. "The healthcare model is equitable when social justice is taken."

The community nurse is preparing for the increased use of educational services by homeless students. Which subpopulation of students does the nurse anticipate to be the largest group? A. Migratory children B. Unaccompanied youth C. Children with disabilities D. Limited English proficient

C. Children with disabilities

Which assessment findings are commonly found in children of homeless families? A. HIV B. Substance use C. Developmental delays D. Chronic urinary tract infections

C. Developmental delays

The nurse working with the homeless student population understands which is the primary nighttime residences of homeless students? A. Unsheltered B. Hotels or motels C. Doubled up with other families D. Transitional housing awaiting foster care

C. Doubled up with other families

Within Healthy People 2020, which social determinants most closely contribute to homelessness? A. Neighborhood B. Educational level C. Economic stability D. Community context

C. Economic stability

The nurse is preparing to research the definition of the homeless individual based on a narrow perspective. Which resource will the nurse use? A. World Health Organization B. Health and Human Services C. Housing and Urban Development D. Health Resources and Service Administration

C. Housing and Urban Development

The nurse is assessing the contributing factors to homelessness in the community. Using upstream thinking, which will the nurse identify as a contributing factor? Select all that apply. A. Mental illness B. Chronic disease C. Lack of housing D. Inadequate income E. Insufficient services

C. Lack of housing D. Inadequate income E. Insufficient services

Which health problem is the most common in the homeless population? A. AIDS B. Alcoholism C. Respiratory infections D. End-stage renal disease

C. Respiratory infections

When addressing the factors that contribute to the homeless population, which should the nurse consider? A. Inadequate food sources B. High chronic illness rates C. Shortage of affordable housing D. Urban communities prone to violence

C. Shortage of affordable housing

The nurse is evaluating the contributing risk factor to the growing population of women that experience chronic homelessness. On which priority factor should the nurse focus? A. Pregnancy B. Depression C. Substance misuse D. Domestic violence

C. Substance misuse

The nurse is providing community education regarding the population of sheltered homelessness according to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Which statement will the nurse include? A. "Women make up the least amount of the sheltered homeless." B. "The sheltered population is older than the general population." C. "The majority of the sheltered homeless are made up of unaccompanied youth." D. "Adults with disabilities have a greater risk for experiencing sheltered homelessness."

D. "Adults with disabilities have a greater risk for experiencing sheltered homelessness."

A nurse is discharging a 50-year-old patient who was admitted for uncontrolled hypertension. The patient states, "I have nowhere to go. I have no one to pick me up, and I do not have money for food." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate? A. "There isn't anyone who can drive you home?" B. "You can take the bus if you prefer. No one has to come and get you to be discharged." C. "I don't know how to help you. I will have the patient advocate take you to the discharge area." D. "I have a list of food banks and shelters for you. Here is a phone number to call. I will bring you a phone."

D. "I have a list of food banks and shelters for you. Here is a phone number to call. I will bring you a phone."

Which is an upstream contributor to homelessness? A. Alcoholism B. Mental illness C. Tuberculosis D. Income insufficiency

D. Income insufficiency

Based on recent surveys, which subpopulation made up the largest group of the homeless population? A. Children B. Families C. Veterans D. Individuals

D. Individuals

Which group of individuals will the nurse identify as being the largest homeless population? A. Children under 18 years B. Youth ages 18-24 years C. Individuals over 62 years D. Individuals ages 31-50 years

D. Individuals ages 31-50 years