...Vulnerable Populations in the Workplace Jennifer Hudson NUR/440 October 15, 2012 Deborah Nallo Vulnerable Populations in the Workplace Change is a constant in the workplace. Policies are written and revised based on the situational needs of the organization and the workforce. A health care setting is unique in that it not only bases policies, reforms, and values on organizational needs and employee needs but also the needs of the very important clients, the patients. Guidelines exist to protect the safety and health of the patients and employees; they also exist to prevent injury, abuse, and to maintain costs and budget. However, change within an organization does not always have to happen at a senior level. An employee can recognize a need and set a course to raise awareness of this need with his colleagues and managers. According to Wells, Manual, & Cunning (2011, p. 784), “the ability to implement change requires the engagement of nursing staff and support in order to positively affect nursing outcomes.” Nurses are capable of identifying patient barriers to receiving quality care. Awareness of inequalities and barriers in a health care setting is important to reduce the incidence of disparity and create positive change for the patients and employees. Disparity is a term used to “reflect differences in health care and outcomes among many groups” (De Chesnay & Anderson, 2012, p. 520). A vulnerable population is a group that has a higher risk of experiencing...
Words: 1457 - Pages: 6
...Safeguarding Assignment 2 Legislation, policies and workplace procedures which reduce the risk of abuse Hand In Deadline: 19th November 2014 Task 1: You must write a report that covers: * Legislation * Recruitment practices * Sector Guidance * Strategies and * Procedures that are used to safeguard vulnerable adults. In addition you must say how these can be used to help reduce 2 different types of abuse. This report will be looking at how legislation, policies and workplace procedures reduce the risk of abuse. Legislations are put in place to reduce the risk of abuse in certain environments and workplaces that are targeted by abusers. The definition for legislation is the act or process of making or enacting laws. In this report I will be covering the six legislations that are most known to us these are; The Sexual Offences act, The Care Standards Act, The Mental health Act, The Equality Act, The Human Rights and The Data Protection Act. The first one I will be covering is The Sexual Offences Act 2003. This Act lists the different types of sex offences. How sex offenders are monitored, how the police have to be informed if the sex offender has changed address or been away from home for more than seven days and it also covers sexual abuse of vulnerable people with mental disorder. This can help spot abuse within different environments, prevent abuse from occurring and stops sex offenders from abusing again within a matter of weeks. The...
Words: 2592 - Pages: 11
...safeguard vulnerable people; like Mrs Naidoo. I am going describe five pieces of legislation and regulations, and explain how they safeguard vulnerable adults. The Care Standard Act 2002 The Care Standard Act is in place for anyone who receives care. These are the minimum standards by which every care provider must adhere to and are inspected on a regular basis. Its policies include giving patients the right to a choice of home, everyday living, activities, protection and administration of medicine. This legislation helps to direct care organisations regarding the protection of vulnerable adults. It does this by giving vulnerable individuals the right to a social life and to make sure all their needs are met, which will really help with their health and well being. For example this regulation could really help someone like Mrs Naidoo, who is not joining in social activities. She is being left out of social activities, which she has a right to and this means she is not getting any social life. Therefore, this piece of legislation really would help her. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 The Disability Discrimination Act aims to end the discrimination that faces many people with disabilities. It gives people with disabilities rights in the areas of: • employment • education • access to goods, facilities and services, including larger private clubs and transport services • buying or renting land or property, including making it easier for people with...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
...Vulnerable Population in the Workplace Theresa Didion University of Phoenix The burden of mental illness in the United States is among the highest of all diseases, and mental disorders are among the most common causes of disability. The first goal of this paper is the examination of the vulnerable population of the mentally ill. Second, this paper will review the goals and agenda of Healthy People 2020 as it applies to mental illness. Third, this paper will review my work place assessment for barriers for the care and treatment of mentally ill patients. Finally, this paper will review a short presentation I gave to co-workers in an effort to aid in better treatment for the mentally ill. Recent figures suggest that in 2004, approximately 1 in 4 adults in the United States had had a mental health disorder in the past year, most commonly anxiety or depression ("Healthy People 2020 ", n.d.).. It is estimated that only about 17% of U.S. adults are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health ("Healthy People 2020 ", n.d.). An estimated 26% of Americans age 18 and older are living with a mental health disorder in any given year, and 46% will have a mental health disorder over the course of their lifetime ("Healthy People 2020 ", n.d.). Mental health disorders often have a serious impact on physical health and are associated with the prevalence, progression, and outcome of some of today’s most pressing chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Mental...
Words: 1547 - Pages: 7
...Managing Diversity programs (Moore 1999). Diversity also has invisible and hidden aspects that include culture and attitudes (Moore 1999). Managing Diversity programs in general mimic or reflect legislative programs that prohibit discrimination and encourage Equal Employment Opportunities within the workplace, and hence many Managing Diversity programs support such groups as women, ethnic minorities, older workers and people with a disability. There is a tension between diversity as a factor that generates forms of exclusion and inferior material outcomes in the labour market, and diversity as a factor that can be harnessed towards improving organisational performance. While diversity is embedded in worker difference and notions of equality and justice, the broader equity goals linked to Managing Diversity are not necessarily the terms by which Managing Diversity programs are assessed within the organisation. The Moral case has often been expressed in terms of Equal Opportunities, which has found manifestation in various pieces of legislation; the business case, instead, is often referred to in terms of managing diversity. However, it is hard to fully separate managing diversity in the workplace from the provision of equal employment opportunities, as legislation shapes the way in which diversity is managed (Monks, 2007). Australian Red Cross...
Words: 1828 - Pages: 8
...Within our society there a many different groups of individuals, although everyone is at risk of abuse and maltreatment, some groups need more safeguarding than others. Vulnerable groups are at higher risk. A vulnerable adult is described as an individual who is aged 18 or over, who is in need of care and support form care services, who is experiencing, or is at risk of significant abuse or neglect and who is unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation. There are a number of vulnerable groups within society which are: the frail and elderly, the less abled and individuals with mental health problems or learning difficulties, visual or hearing impairments or with some form of disease. It is important that the promotion of safeguarding adults is carried out by health care professionals. Safeguarding adults involves protecting individuals at risk of harm. Society today is very diverse, within Britain there are many different races and individuals of different nationalities. These groups of individuals, along with vulnerable adults can be seen as at higher risk of discrimination. Therefore, there are a number of existing legislations set out to protect certain groups of individuals. According to the dictionary of Cambridge legislation is “a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament”. It is the system of rules which a particular country or community recognises as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the...
Words: 2491 - Pages: 10
...legislation and regulations which govern safeguarding adults at work Legislation | Main Points | Application | Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2007 Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) 2010 | * Set for individuals who work with children and vulnerable adults to be registered * The independent safeguarding authority to be able to decide who should be barred from working with people that are vulnerable | * Applies to employed individuals and volunteers * They are separate, but like barred lists for those working with children and adults * Checks must take place before an individual can work with vulnerable people | The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 | * Allows for convictions to become 'spent' after a certain period of time of rehabilitation or non-offending | * All healthcare employment is usually exempt from this act and requires full disclosure of prior convictions. | The Police Act 1997 | * CRB checks (now known as a DBS) have to be done under this act, and are the norm in health and social care settings. | * CRB checks work alongside the ISA to ensure that more detailed checks are carried out | The Sexual Offences Act 2003 | * This act was created for sex offenders registered for identification and tracking purposes | * Enables sex offenders to be monitored and vulnerable adults to be protected | Care Standards Act 2000 | * This was set for national...
Words: 9552 - Pages: 39
...barriers and reasons behind it. The brochure also demonstrated why culture is put on such high value for the Haitian community and what disparities might they face with incompetent healthcare workers towards some of the issues faced and why it would be considered vulnerable. Data collected towards the outcome of the presentation as well as understanding of why this would be a barrier to healthcare was well received within the workplace. Concept of Vulnerability in Haitians “As a triple minority, Haitians face challenges as racial and ethnic minorities, as immigrants, and as individuals who experience poverty at disproportionate levels” (Belizaire & Fuertes, 2011, p. 95). Haiti is considered one of the poorest countries in the world according to Florida Times Union, (2010). Due to the earthquake in 2010, Haiti has lost majority of its economy and potential of growth, hence increasing the immigration of Haitians to South Florida. As healthcare providers it is important to understand the populations being served in a community demographic and appropriate care for them. The concept of vulnerability in Haitians arises from the research into the history of the growing community as well as disparities. To be considered vulnerable, a group must have diminished capacity to cope or recover from a disparity due to influences affecting the individual’s...
Words: 1073 - Pages: 5
...Vulnerable population in the workplace: Diabetics and the homeless Amanda Otten NUR 4800 March 29, 2015 Deanna Radford Vulnerable population in the workplace: Diabetics and the homeless Homelessness is closely associated with poor health, working in a government run facility we encounter multiple patients with this socioeconomic status. Working with the homeless population presents challenges that alone could be managed if in a more stable environment. Diabetes becomes difficult to manage when a patient has no means to handle such a complicated disease. Along with common barriers the homeless deal with stereotypes and prejudice when trying to seek out help for their health care management. Workplace Experience Being one of the major government hospital in Phoenix the majority of our clients are homeless or live below the poverty level, but this does not exclude our patients from having stereotypes placed on them and maybe even accelerates it. When asked many coworkers stated they felt many homeless returning patients with diabetes were “non-compliant and had no interest in maintain a healthy life style.” There have been multiple occurrences when I have overheard fellow nurses question the reasoning for admitting a sick homeless patients when “they don’t care, it’s just a waste of our time.” Even while conducting research, I myself have asked this very same question and came to moments of understanding. We all understand being...
Words: 852 - Pages: 4
...determine how they define their desired leadership style within the organization, which must support their unique vision. Leadership is an art of moving people in a certain way, which is very difficult to explain, or for that matter follow by an individual. Leaders must be able to direct their team, which would eventually lead to success; this is where a leader can exhibits the vision, which is considered so important for leadership. The leadership style for the Program Director of the non-profit organization Catholic Charities for which I worked for I would say was a very effective leader whom had developed a level of self-awareness and capacity to monitor his own learning and development because he knew that leadership attributes can be defined, learned, practiced, improved and passed on to others. My previous director had a positive impact on me while I was employed with the organization because he installed in me that each individual’s leadership success would depend on my ability to create structural relationships that facilitate co-operation, performance, production and mutual satisfaction of my needs and goals. 2. Analyze the organizational structure and culture of the company for which you work to determine its approach to team development, and whether that approach helped to enhance your relationship skills in the workplace. Catholic Charities is the social ministry outreach of the Archdiocese of Washington. Motivated by the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, and...
Words: 723 - Pages: 3
...between employees have been viewed as private matters beyond the purview of the company and not involving special ethical issues” (Stamler, Pace & Stone p.218 1997) Employees who engage in workplace relations usually have to sign a contract. This contract ensures that the involved parties will uphold the strict policies and standards of employee etiquette. A typical consensual relationship agreement includes the guidelines on how love struck staff should behave. In analyzing the case, concepts will be identified in the areas of organizational behavior models of individual, group, and organizational processes how ethical decisions are made, and concepts of individual differences, personality traits, and perspectives. According to Hellriegel & Slocum (2011) the characteristics of a Consensual Relationship Agreement is defined as contract that set boundaries on certain office romance situations. They go as the following: Decreasing sexual harassment litigation risk, reducing perceptions of favoritism, creating a forum to discuss professional workplace behavior, and reminding dating employees the lack of privacy in the workplace. This is to ensure all relationships are voluntary and consensual. 1. Argue for the use of Consensual Relationship Agreements in Your current (or future) Workplace. There have...
Words: 1649 - Pages: 7
...Some patients are required to pay a sliding scale discount fee based on their income and the number people in the family. Community Health Care Centers provide comprehensive and cost effective primary care and supportive services that promote access to health care. These centers accept health insurance and also provide services to the uninsured on a sliding fee scale. I learned that both these centers provide service to patients that over extends what the hospital or doctor office is able to...
Words: 742 - Pages: 3
...Childhood Obesity In the Workplace Vulnerable populations are those at risk for poor physical, psychological, or social health. Anyone can be vulnerable at any given point in time as a result of life circumstances or response to illness or events (De Chesney, M., & Anderson, B. A., 2008). A vulnerable population recently identified and being a focus on in my workplace is childhood obesity. Several of this adolescent is presented to our hospital with an acute illness as well as obesity as a co-existing condition. This paper will be explaining the action plans, which nurses and or any other health care workers can help and educate these adolescent and their family on healthy life style during their hospital stay. Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects it is being recognized as a serious public health concern. The term overweight rather than obese is often used in children as it is less stigmatizing. The mixture of diet along with sedentary lifestyles is creating a generation of children who are facing adult health issues. Changing the trend in the rate of child obesity in America is not difficult as long as parents are willing to accept their responsibility for teaching their children healthy lifestyles (Mayo clinic 2011). There are various ways one can diagnose childhood obesity. As part of regular well-child care...
Words: 1449 - Pages: 6
...detrimental effects on each one of us through our daily lives. We have witnessed discrimination in different aspects of life like inequality in income distribution, religion and race discrimination, discrimination in educational system, in sports, etc. But the most serious issue is the gender discrimination which has constantly degraded the values of society to which we belong. Among all the different kinds of discrimination, the most serious is the gender discrimination which we as a society have failed to deal with since ages. Discrimination refers to inequality. Gender discrimination therefore refers to inequality between people of opposite sex. Gender Discrimination at Workplace There is an alarming rise in the rates of increasing gender discrimination at workplaces nowadays. Every now and then we come across reports related to gender discrimination at workplace. Researchers have also ratified this. Gender discrimination can take place in various forms in respect to unusual or unequal and harsh treatment to a person of one sex as compared to the person of the other sex. * Often, there is discrimination in terms of wage pay to the women employees as compared to male employees as the women are often tagged as the ‘housewife material’ and hence is offered lower wages/salaries and men are considered hard working and dedicated comparatively. This is a common discrimination that women laborers face. What do you think? * Many a times, women (housewives) generally step out...
Words: 719 - Pages: 3
...dramatically reshaped the average workplace in America over the past couple of decades. The office environment of yesteryear is no longer, and has been taken over by rapid technological advancement, allowing employees to interact with a global market, and even take work out on the road. The influx of new technologies that has been making the general convenience of our personal lives has grown exponentially, and has taken over our professional lives as well. In particular, human resource leaders and facility managers are feeling the brunt of these rapid changes, and are especially vulnerable to this impact. Keeping a workplace up-to-date and profitable requires technological tools such as iOffice's facilities management software to help business leaders stay relevant by using technology in an effective way. Is your company keeping up with the evolution of technology in the workplace? Here are 4 ways technology has modified the modern workplace, for the better. iStock_000025803353_Large.jpg 1. Efficiency and Increased Productivity The modern workplace has experienced a complete shift in how we spend our time. Time management has been optimized, and the efforts put into every-day tasks have been lightened. Employee productivity and efforts have been improved, allowing them to place more emphasis on more important things such as precision and creativity. The level of expectation of clients and co-workers has also changed as a result of technology in the workplace, keeping everyone connected...
Words: 609 - Pages: 3
