Vulnerable Populations
Introduction
The intersection of patient safety and quality improvement (QI) in healthcare is an important concern, particularly when addressing the needs of vulnerable populations such as the homeless, migrants, and prisoners. This paper examines the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in improving QI measures to address safety quality issues within this context, following guidelines and best practices from key organizations like the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
Factors Leading to Patient-Safety Risk
Vulnerable populations face unique health challenges that are often exacerbated by social determinants of health such as inadequate housing, nutritional deficiencies, and limited access to healthcare (Hill-Briggs et al., 2021). These factors contribute to increased patient-safety risks in healthcare settings. For example, the transient nature of homelessness complicates follow-up care, while language barriers and cultural differences among migrants may result in misunderstandings regarding health instructions (Tseng et al., 2023). Additionally, the environment of incarceration can lead to mental health issues and communicable diseases, further endangering patient safety (Alexander et al., 2020).
Evidence-Based and Best-Practice Solutions
Improving patient safety for vulnerable populations requires the bridging of the gap between education, policy reform, and community engagement so that nurses can be trained from the first stages of their education on how to address this issueall the way up to their actual practice. One of the best approaches to achieving this is through the adoption of integrated care models, which are designed to combine medical, psychiatric, and social services into one holistic intervention. This type of care model helps to reduce health disparities and improve patient outcomes because of its holistic framework. It makes it so that patient issues are addressed comprehensivelyand not just having the illness or a single issue treated and the rest ignored.
Another important aspect in improving patient safety lies in the use of cultural competence among healthcare...
Conclusion
Addressing the safety quality issues facing vulnerable populations in healthcare settings is a challenge that requires a holistic approach. Baccalaureate-prepared nurses, equipped with a deep understanding of professional guidelines and best practices for patient safety, are uniquely positioned to lead QI initiatives. If they work to develop an environment of trust, advocating for systemic changes, and coordinating comprehensive care strategies, nurses can significantly improve the safety and quality of care for these underserved populations. Incorporating evidence-based practices and engaging with a broad network of stakeholders are essential steps towards mitigating patient-safety risks and enhancing…
References
Alexander, A. A., Allo, H., & Klukoff, H. (2020). Sick and shut in: Incarceration during a publichealth crisis. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 60(5), 647-656.
Hill-Briggs, F., Adler, N. E., Berkowitz, S. A., Chin, M. H., Gary-Webb, T. L., Navas-Acien, A.,... & Haire-Joshu, D. (2021). Social determinants of health and diabetes: a scientific review. Diabetes care, 44(1), 258.
Lee, S. E., Lee, M. H., Peters, A. B., & Gwon, S. H. (2020). Assessment of patient safety andcultural competencies among senior baccalaureate nursing students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4225.
Tseng, Y. C., Jarupreechachan, W., & Lee, T. H. (2023). Understanding the Benefits and Designof Chatbots to Meet the Healthcare Needs of Migrant Workers. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 7(CSCW2), 1-34.
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