Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness - Research Paper Example

Most of these people fall under the categories of people with disabilities, children, and the elderly. The Service Community Assessment of Needs state that these groups are considered most vulnerable due to their being unaware of their situation and the lack of services and resources made available to them (Poirrier, 2001, p.73). Furthermore, these groups are very much dependent on other groups to fight for their welfare since they are mostly unable to do it on their own. A big percentage of these people are within the poverty level, and the concern does not yet include those who may be HIV positive, or may be suffering from mental issues, etc.

As a nurse, one should understand that dealing with the vulnerable population is more than counting the numbers or acquiring percentages (Poirrier, 2001, p.36-7). It is about eliminating the factors that put these people into these situations. However, in this paper, a different view of vulnerable population will be discussed. Young adults may not normally be deemed as vulnerable in terms of nursing or health care. However, there are certain factors that show that this population is as susceptible as the elderly, the children, or the people with disabilities in terms of access to proper and adequate health care VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SELF-AWARENESS 3 (Poirrier, 2001, p.74). .

ople are are the peak of their strength and capabilities, and are given more options or choices compared to other age brackets (Stergiopoulos, Dewa, Durbin, Chau and Svoboda, 2010, p.1033). While this may be true in certain aspects, there is one big factor that prove this population can be as exposed to harm as the other vulnerable populations. Most of my researches and observations are within the community setting. I have seen and heard about homeless young people who are picked up from the streets and sent to the E.R. at every dangerous rise or fall of the temperature.

I have seen and heard about young people experiencing the trauma of unwanted pregnancies, sexual assaults, or sexually transmitted diseases at a time when they are too young to be prepared for such major life events, just because they are living in the streets. As I go on seeing and hearing about these people, I have come to realize that these young individuals are as vulnerable as the ones that the health industry consider. My major concern here is the “harm being done to this population that will reflect further in their lives” (Poirrier, 2001, p.74-5). The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council states that among those falling under the 18-24 age bracket, a big percentage experience homelessness, and that the number continues to rise annually (Stergiopoulos et al., 2010, p.1032).

Homelessness among these young adults reach up to 2 million a year (Stanhope and Lancaster, 2008, p.213). This alone speaks a lot about the large number of individuals exposed to multiple dangers and susceptibilities daily. This, too, VULNERABLE POPULATION AND SELF-AWARENESS 4 tells us that they require much-needed attention as much as the other considered vulnerable populations in the health industry. Furthermore,