title: The homeless as a vulnerable population.
abstract: The homeless population is a social group that is vulnerable because the homeless are at an increased risk for adverse health-related outcomes. Understanding the nature of homelessness and the relationship between resource availability, relative risks, and health status is critical for nurses to diagnose and treat health-related problems in this vulnerable population. This article discusses the homeless as a vulnerable population by using the health-related problems of vulnerable population's model as a theoretical framework. Specific primary, secondary, and tertiary nursing interventions useful for providing care are discussed and a case study is provided to exemplify these relationships.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006291:Health Policy; D006295:Health Resources; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States