Declan is a nursing student enrolled in a public health/community nursing course. As part of Declan's clinical rotation, he visits a homeless shelter twice a week to provide nursing care to the shelter's occupants. Declan's clients experience health issues such as malnutrition, communicable diseases, chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and substance abuse.
- On Monday, Declan screens the shelter's children for signs and symptoms of ear infection. The rate of ear infections is ___________ higher among homeless children than the national average.
- Many of Declan's clients in the homeless shelter experience mental illness. Declan knows that this subpopulation has a limited chance of escaping homelessness. Why is this? Discuss.
- When Declan assesses the shelter's occupants for mental health illness, to what mood disorder should he pay particular attention? Why? Discuss.