Compassion is the key attribute that carries one-sided weight in all areas of nursing. Compassion holds nurses accountable for every interaction they have and is often what the public expects. Compassionate care consists of two main characteristics: being able to understand the factors that make up an individual while also being able to understand their situation and condition. Nurses perform routine procedures and skills throughout their shift. The first characteristic of compassionate care is context. While medical tasks are structured and routine, their relationship with the patient is not. Any act of compassion is subject to the patient's situation. Additional factors such as health determinants and external and internal influences must be considered in order to treat the patient as a whole. The second mark of compassion is empathy. Through a therapeutic relationship, empathy can be used to make the patient feel heard and validated, leading to positive outcomes both medically and behaviorally. This article will examine the impact of compassionate care on individuals' homelessness. Issues of both systemic and individual barriers will be addressed in addition to factors that influence positive and negative outcomes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It is important to consider the deficits and disparities within this population in order to best serve them. The issue of homelessness is complex and there are a number of reasons why someone may experience it. A person may become homeless due to an economic problem or may experience further chronic homelessness due to mental health and substance abuse issues (Katz, 2017). In the United States, more than 500,000 people are homeless at any given time, and 3 million are homeless throughout the year (Landefeld, 2017). The median age of this population is 50 years in 2017 (Landefeld, 2017). The composition of this population includes women, children, and families in addition to single men (Katz, 2017). These people arguably receive the worst health care and often only seek help in crises from emergency departments. Life expectancy is only 47 years (Withers, 2011). This low number can be attributed to many factors, but lack of healthcare resources is a major factor. This population is exposed to numerous health factors, both physical and psychological. Compared to the general population, homeless people are more likely to report problems associated with increased prevalence and severity of chronic pain (Landfield, 2013). In a study by Landfield (2013) looking at the rate of chronic disease in middle-aged adults, it was reported that 79.9% of 305 participants reported experiencing chronic pain which was classified in the study like any pain lasting more than three months. Participants also reported physical and mental health disorders, substance abuse, tobacco dependence, and a history of physical and sexual abuse during childhood (Landefeld, 2017). With 32% of this population living without shelter, climate also contributes to risk factors (Katz, 2017). The environments are often harsh and ultimately increase pain by leaving individuals exposed to various elements such as violence, overcrowded shelters, lack of bedding, and the need to walk long distances (Landefield,2017). The lack of sanitary living environments has crucial impacts that can affect more than just the population concerned. For example, in 2017 in one California city, an outbreak of hepatitis C among drug users and homeless people resulted in 600 cases, 395 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths (Katz, 2017). This is just one of many findings that illustrate the need for proactive care in this population and the requirement for health measures. As previously noted, individuals in this population are aging and suffering from numerous chronic illnesses that require constant medical care in addition to medication management. When seeking medical care in this population, it is often overlooked due to individuals feeling stigmatized by nurses and providers, leading to lack of adherence to healthcare (Ogrady, 2018) . Health care providers and the general public are often quick to stereotype these individuals as “lazy,” “drug addicts,” or “vagabonds.” It is often assumed that this is the life they have chosen when in reality homelessness can affect anyone. Certain behaviors are linked to this population, including: drug use, needles strewn on the streets, and shopping carts and tents in public spaces, which have been reported as civically frustrating (Katz, 2017). These behaviors reduce the public's willingness to provide assistance or help. In an effort to reduce this stigma, providers must first educate themselves about the causes of homelessness in order to be able to provide context to an individual's situation, which will then lead to compassionate care. compassion and empathy. Through advocacy, education, and implementation of new programs, nurses and all health care providers can become leaders in caring for this underserved population by formalizing the idea of ​​medicine street. Street medicine is a trending method that is a more radical attempt than traditional methods to create an accessible health care environment for those who have been largely marginalized in our organized health care system (Withers, 2011). Street medicine emphasizes health care delivery and education in hopes of bridging social and economic disparities. This concept recognizes deficits and proven strategic resources to address these issues that are often overlooked. A key element is being able to mobilize health care to deliver it to a specific community. It is often difficult for this population to find affordable and consistent means of transportation. They were also reported to ignore important health problems rather than attempt to access institutional health services that they perceived as failing resources in the past. (Ogrady, 2018). Typically, these services are offered without judgment, with no expectation of compensation configured to meet the unique need (Ogrady, 2018). This concept encompasses an essential element of compassion discussed above. Through empathy, providers speak directly to the patient, establishing an element of trust and building a solid foundation to begin with (Withers, 2017). With a desire to understand context, nurses and health care providers must take this crucial step in providing care to this marginalized population in order to begin closing disparities. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. .Get a Custom EssayHomeless people did not arrive overnight and will not, 21(5), 23., 39(3), 328-343.