Deck 21: Care of Poor and Homeless Populations

Question 1

The population health nurse is working with a runaway adolescent who has been living in a local shelter. The nurse and the adolescent have explored the possibility of the adolescent returning home, and the adolescent is amenable. The most appropriate nursing intervention is to:

A) Contact the family and arrange for a time when the adolescent can return.
B) Work with the shelter to improve conditions for adolescent residents.
C) Work with the community to improve programs that address adolescent concerns.
D) Arrange for counseling for the adolescent and family before and after the adolescent returns.

Answer 1

Arrange for counseling for the adolescent and family before and after the adolescent returns.

Question 2

Families who are living in a local shelter state that they fear their children may be subject to abuse from other residents in the shelter. Which solution should the population health nurse recommend for this issue?

A) Restrict who uses the shelter.
B) Have a separate family area in the shelter.
C) Search everyone who uses the shelter prior to entering.
D) Force the children to stay with their parents at all times.

Answer 2

Have a separate family area in the shelter.

Question 3

The population health nurse notices that the population in the homeless shelters has increased, with a noticeable rise of pregnant women. The nurse coordinates with the shelter to provide meals that are more nutritionally adequate than the usual bologna sandwich, chips, and soda that is provided. This is considered:

A) Preventing illness and injury.
B) Preventing poverty and homelessness.
C) Resolving existing problems.
D) Health promotion.

Answer 3

Resolving existing problems.

Question 4

The population health nurse learns that efforts to improve the health of the poor and homeless in a community have not been effective. What should the nurse do to change this outcome going forward?

A) Campaign to change the hours of community health clinics.
B) Seek assistance from city council to meet the needs of the poor and homeless.
C) Work with the school district to improve the nutritional status of students in the community.
D) Focus programs on the national health objectives related to low-income individuals and families.

Question 5

In addressing factors that contribute to poverty, homelessness, and the health of the community, the nurse should assess:

A) Employment and home environment.
B) Lack of affordable housing and social support.
C) Mental illness and social support.
D) Mobility and age of client.

Question 6

There is a low unemployment rate in a community that has experienced a large growth in gentrification. Yet, many community residents live in motels and campgrounds because there is a lack of affordable housing for lower-income residents. The population health nurse realizes that these residents could be considered:

A) To be very close to poverty.
B) To have problems with substance abuse.
C) Homeless due to their transitory lodgings.
D) An easily mobile workforce.

Question 7

A family has been able to earn enough money to raise their overall income level from the federal poverty guidelines. Health restoration strategies to maintain their income at this level would be to: (Select all that apply.)

A) Assist the family in making and adhering to a budget.
B) Explore the factors that led to the family earning less money before.
C) Join a local cooperative to help buying efforts to stretch their income farther.
D) Refer the family to a local social service agency for emergency funds should they need them.
E) Encourage family members to seek higher income employment.

Question 8

The population health nurse visits a family in the community and becomes aware that the family is facing loss of their house because of the primary income earner's recent illness, which depleted the household income. The nurse should intervene to aid the family by:

A) Referring them to their local church.
B) Contacting local social service agencies for emergency housing funds.
C) Finding employment for other family members.
D) Arranging for home health services for the primary income earner.

Question 9

The population health nurse realizes that many of the young adult members of the community have poor nutrition habits and knows that these are risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These risk factors can affect their:

A) Future income and health potential.
B) Ability to obtain health care.
C) Ability to network social support systems.
D) Future potential to change their dietary habits.

Question 10

The population health nurse is aware that many members of the community, though they are employed, need to obtain additional foodstuffs every month from the local community food bank. The nurse knows that this indicates that:

A) There are insufficient employment opportunities in the community.
B) Poverty is increasing in the community.
C) Better information about food economy should be disseminated in the community.
D) The local grocery stores do not carry sufficient supplies.

Question 11

The population health nurse becomes politically involved in supporting a bill that is being debated in the state legislature. This bill would raise the minimum wage in the state and offer programs for reemployment in other job sectors. This is considered:

A) Health promotion.
B) Disease prevention
C) Health restoration.
D) Injury prevention.

Question 12

The population health nurse is implementing approaches to homelessness. Which step should the nurse take first when addressing homelessness in a community?

A) Assess and diagnose community factors that lead to homelessness.
B) Diagnose and implement community programs that address homelessness.
C) Implement and evaluate community programs that address homelessness.
D) Assess and evaluate community factors that lead to homelessness.

Question 13

The major emphasis in prevention that relates to the health of the poor and homeless in a community is to:

A) Have appropriate support services in place to address the health needs of these aggregates.
B) Ensure health services in the schools to keep children healthy.
C) Prevent the factors that cause homelessness and poverty.
D) Ensure sufficient employment opportunities are available for all adults.

Question 14

The population health nurse investigates a local park where several complaints have been lodged against people who sleep there at night and rummage through the trash cans. The nurse sees several inappropriately overdressed people sitting on the benches with many worn shopping bags clustered around them. After speaking with these people, the nurse contacts a local mental health agency to refer them for services. What is the best rationale for this intervention?

A) Mental health agencies are the best source for homeless referrals.
B) Shelters and shower facilities are easily obtained through mental health agencies.
C) Homeless funding is best found in mental health agencies.
D) Many homeless people have concurrent mental health illness.

Question 15

The population health nurse is evaluating care provided to the poor and homeless. What should be the primary focus of this evaluation?

A) Training programs employ the homeless.
B) Systems-level outcomes are met.
C) Client-level outcomes are met.
D) Individual and population intervention objectives are met.

Question 16

The population health nurse is planning teaching sessions for low-income community members. Which topics should the nurse include that focus on health promotion for this population? (Select all that apply.)

A) Importance of adequate rest.
B) Strategies to improve job search results.
C) Ways to ensure adequate nutrition on a fixed budget.
D) Interventions to prevent exacerbation of chronic illnesses.
E) Strategies to incorporate exercise into everyday activities.