Assessment Tools for Helping the Homeless

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For several years, researchers group together to find the right direction in analyzing how homeless people can acquire a better framework in a direction of regaining their dignity and integrity. Researchers were able to create an assessment tools that eventually produce a meaningful result. This paper will discuss the different tools that can assess the homeless people in developing the necessary guide to overcome their present difficulties, mentally and physically. Assessment tools in different model but the tools selected for the homeless people are descriptive and appropriate. The first tool that is appropriate for the homeless population is the Degoratis Stress Profile. The Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP) is a primary measurement for stress "a phenomenon arises from a dynamic interaction between environmental events, personality characteristics and emotional responses". (Derogatis, 1980). Derogatis Stress Profile designed in a hierarchal model that represent stress as the main dimensions summed up into three primary components summing up the client's level. The three primary components and sub-components are: 1.) Stress-inducing life events a) Vocational environment b) Domestic environment c) Health environment 2.) Personality characteristics a) Time pressure b) Driven behavior c) Attitude posture d) Relaxation potential e) Role definition 3.) Emotional responses a) Hostility b) Anxiety c) Depression The aforementioned primary stress components are stress-inducers, stress mediator, and stress indicators based on the areas of life events, personality, and psychopathology. Each of the primary stress components has their own corresponding numbers or scale to determine the total stress score. A DSP ... ... middle of paper ... ...the situation. The tool can determine the adaptability and functionality of handling their present difficult situation. The nurse aware of these assessment tools can improve or aspire in the delivery of quality of care. By utilizing these assessment tools, it produces an answer to a situation catered not only to the homeless people but also to the rest of the general population. Depending on the ongoing crisis of an individual, being knowledgeable of these assessment tools, the nurse can progress in planning the necessary interventions to meet the needs of each individual. Furthermore, the nurse gains competency, creativeness, and resourcefulness in their nursing practice. Nurses always have different perspectives in the delivery of care to the best of their abilities but without the assessment skills and knowledge, the whole delivery system will not be sufficient.

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