Health Care for the Homeless: A Partnership Between a City and a School of Nursing

Abstract

Although there is extant research on the homeless, less is available suggesting an innovative community partnership such as Project HOPE. This partnership provided baccalaureate nursing students with greater understanding of underserved populations and health care delivery systems, and encouraged their future work with marginalized populations upon graduation. Students collected descriptive information on the homeless population. Correlations were found among site placement: age, clothing and supplies given, wound care, referrals given, assessments, and season of the year. Student evaluations revealed paradigm shifts in attitudes and inspired advocacy toward this population. Through the descriptive information and qualitative comments, we gained insight on demographics, conditions observed, and interventions offered, which provided direction for quality improvement in curriculum design for the Community Health Nursing course, direction for future student groups working in shelters and with street outreach workers, and information useful to strengthening partnerships with local organizations working with the homeless population.

Association of Community Health Nursing Educators 2020 Research Priorities and Research in Action Model

“…Projects reported students interacting with hundreds of clients at a homeless shelter, a mega‐clinic and through a TB outreach program (Belcher & DeForge, 2012; Niemi, Payne, & Bates, 2018; Schoon, Champlin, & Hunt, 2012). Students reported feelings of value and enthusiasm, as well as an improved understanding of challenges faced by communities (Broussard, 2010; Champlin & Kunkel, 2017; Pennington, Coast, & Kroh, 2010; Pierangeli & Lenhart, 2018; Van Doren & Vander Werf, 2012). Suggestions included explicit support of key leaders in community organizations, increased support and training of faculty, increased evaluation of impact, and long‐term follow‐up of students and community outcomes (Dunlap, Marver, Morrow, Green, & Elam, 2011; Gillis & Mac Lellan, 2013; Sandberg, 2018).…”

A qualitative exploration of nursing students’ perceptions of the homeless and their care experiences

“…Educators have suggested a variety of teaching strategies to ensure students understand how to care for vulnerable populations . Online simulation, service learning, and community partnerships have been described in the literature.…”

“…Educators have suggested a variety of teaching strategies to ensure students understand how to care for vulnerable populations . Online simulation, service learning, and community partnerships have been described in the literature. Our students also recommended multiple ways to teach about homelessness, including presentation of this content in the classroom, personal testimony from the homeless, spending clinical time in homeless shelters or free clinics, use of simulation, and finally, cultural immersion in order to allow them to spend time really getting to know homeless people.…”

An Academic‐Community Partnership to Address the Flu Vaccination Rates of the Homeless

“…The goal was to understand current health issues and devise effective interventions collaboratively. Pennington, Coast, and Kroh () discussed a partnership in which nursing students collected descriptive information on the homeless at different sites throughout the city, providing both useful information for community agencies and for continued involvement by future community health nursing students. The students gained a greater understanding of underserved populations and the health care systems, a shift in their attitudes toward working with the homeless in the future, and a desire to advocate for marginalized populations.…”