title: The experiences of nurse practitioners providing health care to the homeless.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Homelessness is a growing public health and social concern in our society. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to gain insight into the unique experiences of nurse practitioners (NPs) who provide health care to the homeless.
  
  
  METHODS
  Audio-taped, open-ended interviews were conducted with nine NPs from southeast and northeast Wisconsin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five themes and 13 subthemes emerged from the NPs' accounts. The main themes included: (1) why they do what they do; (2) a unique population with unique needs; (3) NP characteristics; (4) how the relationship develops; and (5) lessons learned: a relationship of reciprocity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study findings will assist healthcare providers to gain insight into the experience of providing health care to the homeless and learn what it takes to become successful in such an important and much needed role.
authors.affiliation: Family Practice, Ministry Medical Group-Crandon, Crandon, Wisconsin 54520, USA. ashley.seiler@ministryhealth.org
authors.forename: Ashley J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: Vicki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013637:Tape Recording; D014922:Wisconsin