Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach
Objective To implement, refine and evaluate an assertive community health nurse (CHN) model of support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness that aims to improve their access to health and social care services.Methods Participants were recruited between 30 August 2013 and 31 October 201...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2019-11-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e030982.full |
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| author | Rajna Ogrin Dianne Goeman Jane Howard |
| author_facet | Rajna Ogrin Dianne Goeman Jane Howard |
| author_sort | Rajna Ogrin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective To implement, refine and evaluate an assertive community health nurse (CHN) model of support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness that aims to improve their access to health and social care services.Methods Participants were recruited between 30 August 2013 and 31 October 2015, including clients residing in a Victorian southern Melbourne metropolitan suburb, who registered with the CHN and stakeholders from local service provider organisations engaging with the CHN. A collaborative approach using demographic data collected from client records to identify need and measure the time clients took to engage and access services, qualitative data gathered during Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings and feedback from face-to-face interviews with service organisation representatives informed refinement of the CHN model.Results Thirty-nine clients (22 Female, mean age 50±11 years) participated. Clients engaged with services after an average of seven CHN visits. Eighteen clients independently accessed services after approximately 9 weeks, including medical and housing services. Client need and feedback from 20 stakeholders and three community nurses contributed to refining the model to ensure it met local needs and informed the necessary organisational framework, the CHN role and the attributes, knowledge and the skills required.Conclusion A collaborative CHN model of support for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness has been articulated. Evaluation of the role demonstrated increased client engagement with health and community services and social activities. Additionally, the CHN assisted other service providers in their delivery of care to this very complex client group. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be2cb86ccc4f4fa2b6322b01fcf31a0c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-be2cb86ccc4f4fa2b6322b01fcf31a0c2025-08-20T01:54:21ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-11-0191110.1136/bmjopen-2019-030982Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approachRajna Ogrin0Dianne Goeman1Jane Howard21 Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Bolton Clarke, Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia2 Department of Public Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia1 Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Bolton Clarke, Bentleigh, Victoria, AustraliaObjective To implement, refine and evaluate an assertive community health nurse (CHN) model of support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness that aims to improve their access to health and social care services.Methods Participants were recruited between 30 August 2013 and 31 October 2015, including clients residing in a Victorian southern Melbourne metropolitan suburb, who registered with the CHN and stakeholders from local service provider organisations engaging with the CHN. A collaborative approach using demographic data collected from client records to identify need and measure the time clients took to engage and access services, qualitative data gathered during Stakeholder Advisory Group meetings and feedback from face-to-face interviews with service organisation representatives informed refinement of the CHN model.Results Thirty-nine clients (22 Female, mean age 50±11 years) participated. Clients engaged with services after an average of seven CHN visits. Eighteen clients independently accessed services after approximately 9 weeks, including medical and housing services. Client need and feedback from 20 stakeholders and three community nurses contributed to refining the model to ensure it met local needs and informed the necessary organisational framework, the CHN role and the attributes, knowledge and the skills required.Conclusion A collaborative CHN model of support for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness has been articulated. Evaluation of the role demonstrated increased client engagement with health and community services and social activities. Additionally, the CHN assisted other service providers in their delivery of care to this very complex client group.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e030982.full |
| spellingShingle | Rajna Ogrin Dianne Goeman Jane Howard Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach BMJ Open |
| title | Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach |
| title_full | Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach |
| title_fullStr | Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach |
| title_short | Implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in Australia: a collaborative approach |
| title_sort | implementation and refinement of a community health nurse model of support for people experiencing homelessness in australia a collaborative approach |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/11/e030982.full |
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