As a future healthcare worker, it is important to note that not all patients are the same.  By this I mean that some patients may live-in safe neighborhoods while others may not, or some can drive a car to get places while others rely on public transportation. These could be factors in vulnerable populations in which they may not be able to afford a car, a house in a good neighborhood, or even quality health insurance.  The neighborhood example could be seen as both an environmental and societal factor. The environment the individual is living in is not safe making it less likely for these patients to go outside for a walk or let their kids play outside. It can also be seen as a societal factor in which the neighborhood may be primarily populated by part time workers who are unable to attain quality health or dental insurance from their jobs. In terms of the individual, vulnerable populations can be defined to religions or races that may face more backlash or discrepancy in care than others. Throughout history these issues in public health continue to be a reason that some people seek treatment for their illness and others do not. An example of history includes the current COVID-19 pandemic we are living in. If a single mother were to contract the virus, then how would she care for her kids. If the closest relative is 4 hours away and they are barely making enough for food and rent, what do you think they will do? Though it would be against medical advice, she might still go to work in which staying home and isolating would risk the health and safety of her children as well as the risk her losing her home. 

            In terms of resolving some of these healthcare disparities, I believe it would be most efficient to offer more benefits in lower income jobs as well as reaching out to some of these vulnerable populations to help them directly. Sometimes it is as simple as these individuals of different religion or race are simply afraid to come to the hospital. They fear they won’t receive adequate treatment based on what they’ve seen on the news or social media. For this reason, it is important to make them feel safe and heard as much as possible because by doing that we can improve our quality of care among some of these vulnerable populations. After realizing how much some of these populations can lack proper health care, I want to be sure I improve how I deliver care to these populations in my own practice. I plan on doing this by remaining open and unbiased to my patients and looking at situations from every angle. Maybe they were late not because they didn’t care, but because the online bus schedule was wrong, or they couldn’t find care for their child in which I need to be understanding of everyone no matter their background. I hope that as a future nurse I can make these vulnerable populations feel heard and understood as well as provide them with the best quality of care possible.