All the patients I’ve worked with are a part of my journey to receiving my degree as a nurse. As I think about community and public health nursing and all the topics we’ve gone over in class, there are many patients that come to mind. One patient encounter I experienced in clinical at UNE can be connected to many areas of community and public health nursing.

When I think about their demographic, they are within an average demographic in accordance with their age but not when it comes to income. This person’s social determinants of health are not met. They are not economically stable, they didn’t attend much schooling, they don’t have access to healthcare, and they do not have a home. This patient would really benefit from health equity because they could use a safe place to live, access to healthcare, access to substance abuse programs, as well as finding them a job that could help them get out of poverty and off the streets or out of shelters. No one should have to lie about their status of their health just to be sheltered. They are in the hospital though because they needed certain care. In the hospital, we can set the patient up with a social worker to help them find some sort of housing when they are discharged, we can provide them with adequate meals each day, hydration, medication they need, and most importantly a roof over their head with a bed.

The previous health system they were at could have done better for this patient but in this patient circumstances safety was a concern. They were failed though when they were left with no support, no place to go, and not even set up with a facility to help with their substance’s issues. I think the health system could have done better for this patient. When shelters aren’t accepting people at times and the only place to receive help means you must lie that you’re sick, that is when health systems are failing. It makes me think, would this happen if the person was set up with resources or if they knew the patient’s history? Could accommodations be made? All patients need an advocate but, in this case, advocacy can really make a difference. Policy makers could possibly make a change, but I think the biggest people to make a change are the people who work with the patient, like myself. I can be an advocate for the patient and for those in similar situations.