NURS FPX 4015 Assessment 4
[Student Name]
Capella University
[Prof. Name]
August 2025
NURS FPX 4015 Assessment 4: Introduction
Greetings and hello. I’m [Your Name], and today I’ll talk about the particular health problems that homeless or housing-insecure persons face. The various strategies for delivering culturally competent nursing care to enhance the health of this susceptible population are highlighted in Caring for Special Populations.
The likelihood of eviction, overcrowding, or homelessness is increased by housing insecurity, which includes not having a stable, suitable, and inexpensive place to live (NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4). Because they are unemployed, people in this situation may stay with friends and family, in motels, or in temporary shelters. Some are exposed to hazardous living conditions that worsen chronic stress and have a negative influence on health outcomes, while others relocate frequently.
Caring for vulnerable populations brings to emphasize how housing insecurity disproportionately affects low-income groups, disadvantaged communities, and people with disabilities, thereby exacerbating socioeconomic inequality. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (2023), housing affordability is a problem for around 11 million households, or 25% of renters. People who are under such financial strains are typically at risk of foreclosure or becoming unable to make their rent payments.
Healthcare Challenges Among Housing-Insecure Populations
Due to their limited access to transportation, lack of insurance, and unstable finances, people who struggle with housing instability often put off seeking healthcare services. These challenges threaten chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory problems, which are frequently linked to substandard living and eating habits (Fitzpatrick & Willis, 2021). NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4 reminds that mentally disturbed feelings are common in depressed and anxious people. Health care for special
populations has indicated that financial pressure and unstable living conditions usually result in medication compliance, avoidable hospitalizations, and increases in ED visits.
These disparities have to be addressed in the care models by incorporating the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). These obstacles can be overcome by using community based solutions, mobile health programs, mental health counseling and home building. To ensure that treatment is sensitive to the diverse experiences of this group of people, NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4 calls attention to the application of trauma-informed practice in healthcare. The care for special populations identifies the principles of conducting policy interventions, including enlargement of Medicaid access and providing support programs to communities, to enhance the access to health care (Willison et al., 2021).
Cultural Values and Beliefs in Care Delivery
Appreciation of individual needs and preferences of people living with housing insecurity is a very important step in delivering culturally competent nursing care. Most individuals will focus more on merely getting by and not pay much attention to healthcare causing the people to live with untreated chronic diseases and late diagnosis. The concept of special populations stresses the possibility to establish mobile health clinics to facilitate the number of people receiving acute and preventative care due to delivering services in shelters and communities (Rennert et al., 2024).
This group of people frequently lacks trust in healthcare systems, which is typically caused by discrimination or negative past experiences. According to Hernandez et al. (2021), building trust is a duty for nurses that should be fulfilled through trauma-informed practices and courteous, nonjudgmental communication. of NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4 emphasizes that cultural competence training equips nurses to recognize and respect diverse cultures, improving patient interactions and care plan responses
Healthcare Disparities Faced by Homeless Populations
According to Caring for Special Populations, social stigmatization, lack of continuity in care, and financial background are some of the main factors contributing to the rise in health disparities among people experiencing housing instability. Even when the condition is avoidable, the majority of them visit emergency rooms because they lack primary care physicians. According to NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4, the ensuing consequences include a higher risk of death, an increase in hospitalizations, and the exacerbation of chronic illnesses (Garcia et al., 2024). Additionally, a lack of access to screening and vaccination raises the chance of contracting infectious diseases.
Due of their complexity, this group will require the following strategies:
- Families with children frequently experience gaps in pediatric treatment and disruptions in their education.
- Chronic illnesses are harder for older homeless persons to manage.
- Homelessness brought on by family rejection can also make LGBTQ + children more susceptible to violence and exploitation; veterans are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders and substance abuse (Miller, 2021).
Mobile clinics and trauma-informed nursing practices are crucial components in resolving challenges and building trust, according to NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4. The Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (2024), which integrates medical, mental health, and drug abuse treatment into shelters and outreach initiatives for the homeless, is a prime example.
Strategies for Delivering Culturally Competent Nursing Care
As stressed in the concept of special population, cultural competency ensures that people from varied origins receive fair, considerate, and courteous treatment when it comes to healthcare. The main tactics are:
- Self-reflection and training acknowledge personal prejudice and understand how cultural norms shape how people see health.
- Cultural practices are identified, such as what are they? Pay attention to the spiritual traditions, food restrictions, and alternative therapies.
- Culturally sensitive communication is emphasized while caring for special groups. Examples of this include using visual aids, avoiding medical terminology, and enlisting translators (Deering, 2024).
- Family members and community leaders are included in care planning through shared decision-making.
- Using mobile clinics and providing flexible scheduling can help remove socioeconomic barriers.
- To improve patient involvement, professional development continues to educate oneself on cultural competency (Hernandez et al., 2021).
Conclusion
Managing housing-insecure populations necessitates a thorough, culturally sensitive strategy that integrates social determinants of health, trauma-responsive treatment, and community-based interventions, according to NURS FPX 4015 assessment 4. Reducing those inequities requires extensive support networks, policy changes, and mobile health outreach. By caring for special people, fostering trust, lowering barriers to treatment, and honoring cultural norms, nurses can also significantly enhance the health of this underprivileged population
References
Anthonj, C., Mingoti Poague, K. I. H., Fleming, L., & Stanglow, S. (2024). Invisible struggles: WASH insecurity and implications of extreme weather among urban homeless in high-income countries – A systematic scoping review. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 255, 114285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114285”
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. (2024). Street team. https://www.bhchp.org/services/street-team/
Deering, M. (2024, May 3). Cultural competence in nursing. NurseJournal. https://nursejournal.org/resources/cultural-competence-in-nursing/
Fitzpatrick, K. M., & Willis, D. E. (2021). Homeless and hungry: Food insecurity in the land of plenty. Food Security, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-020-01115-x
Garcia, C., Doran, K., & Kushel, M. (2024). Homelessness and health: Factors, evidence, innovations that work, and policy recommendations. Health Affairs, 43(2), 164–171. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01049
Hernandez, N. C., Leal, L. M. R., & Brito, M. J. M. (2021). Building culturally competent compassion in nurses caring for vulnerable populations. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 40(4),
- https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101211062708
Miller, L. (2021). Statistics on veterans and substance abuse. Veteranaddiction.org. https://veteranaddiction.org/resources/veteran-statistics/
National Low Income Housing Coalition. (2023). A shortage of affordable homes. https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/gap/Gap-Report_2023.pdf
Rennert, L., Gezer, F., Jayawardena, I., Howard, K. A., Bennett, K. J., Litwin, A. H., & Sease, K. K. (2024). Mobile health clinics for distribution of vaccinations to underserved communities during health emergencies: A COVID-19 case study. Public Health in Practice, 8, 100550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100550
Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI). (2023). Samhsa.gov. https://www.samhsa.gov/communities/homelessness-programs-resources/grants/gbhi
The Queens Nursing Institute. (2022). Homeless and inclusion health nursing case studies raising awareness and understanding of homeless and inclusion health nursing and demonstrating the value of this specialist role (2). https://qni.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/HIH-Case-Studies-2022.pdf
Willison, C. E., Lillvis, D., Mauri, A., & Singer, P. M. (2021). Technically accessible, practically ineligible: The effects of Medicaid expansion implementation on chronic homelessness. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 46(6). https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-9349142
