The Health Bus Delivers Innovative Healthcare to the Urban Poor

Services like the Health Bus need to be continued and expanded. Bringing healthcare staff into vulnerable communities gives many users a chance to bond with the healthcare staff. This helps break down traditional barriers that the homeless and working poor experience in accessing mainstream healthcare. The Health Bus also attracts members of the community to participate in delivering healthcare. This makes projects like the Health Bus a truly community-based healthcare service.York's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

Homelessness Is a Symptom of Poverty and Government Failure

Homelessness, most of the time, is not a choice or the result of mental illness – rather homelessness is caused by a lack of income and housing. Homelessness therefore should be seen as a social, not an individual, problem.York's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

How Do the Homeless See Their Own Health Problems and Needs?

Because the homeless have no stable housing, they are at a greater risk of developing chronic health problems than those who are housed. Homeless people are also more likely to develop conditions like arthritis at an earlier age as a result of their poverty and living conditions. The first step to combating these health problems is an open and accepting attitude towards the homeless from support workers and the general public. The social exclusion which homeless people experience every day leads to, and further reinforces, stress, addictions, and mental health problems. Homeless shelters need to have a more welcoming atmosphere with greater safety and fewer restrictions on the lives of homeless people. Lastly, providing affordable and safe housing is the only long-term solution to the widespread health problems of the homeless.York's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

Canadians Living with Diabetes and in Poverty Are at High Risk

Canadian individuals living in poverty and who also have T2DM are at high risk for adverse health outcomes. Social welfare does not provide sufficient assistance to allow them to successfully manage their disease. They have difficulty affording the diet required to avoid severe health problems that result from T2DM.York's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

Poverty Has a Devastating Impact on Canadians Living with Diabetes

Diabetes is more prevalent among the poor. Healthcare professionals, in addition to providing excellent care, must push to reduce poverty. This will optimize the management and prevention of diabetes.York's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

Individuals' History of Low Income Is a Key Determinant of Type 2 Diabetes

People who experience low income status are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.York’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

Type 2 Diabetes in Vulnerable Populations

Diabetes prevention and management needs more advocacy through a network of different health care partners working together. This can also help inform policy that meets the distinct needs of at risk populations for diabetes, such as low-income earners.York's Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services and funding for faculty, graduate students, and community organizations seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. It is supported by SSHRC and CIHR grants, and by the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

‘My mentor didn't speak to me for the first four weeks’: Perceived unfairness experienced by nursing students in clinical practice settings

Aims and Objectives To explore the perceived unfairness experienced by student nurses during their undergraduate clinical placements. Background It is important that student nurses feel supported by practice staff during their clinical placement education experiences. However, it has been reported that learners can feel ignored, unsupported and bullied by others in the clinical environment and this has a detrimental effect on their learning. It is important to understand the student nurse perspective and explore ways in which their feelings of belongingness might be enhanced in the clinical area. Design A descriptive narrative approach was utilised to explore the qualitative data generated by the survey and interviews. Limited closed-question survey data were acquired to explore a selection of quantified survey responses about placements and mentorship. Methods A survey was conducted with 1425 student nurses from adult and mental health degree nursing pathways, across 9 institutions in the North West of England, UK. Unstructured interviews were undertaken with 22 student nurses from across these 9 institutions. The data generated from both methods (free text survey responses and interview) were thematically analysed. Results There were times when student nurses felt that they had been treated unfairly by various members of the health care team during their clinical placements. Unfairness was related to being ignored and unsupported or being used as an ‘extra pair of hands’ and having their supernumerary status ignored. Student nurses want to have feelings of belongingness in the clinical area and value enthusiasm for teaching from mentors. Certain positive mentor qualities were identified through the data in this study. These have been used to inform a tiered model of mentorship, to inform future thinking about student nurse education. Conclusion Student nurses can feel like they are being treated unfairly in the clinical area in numerous ways. Identifying ways in which mentorship practice can be developed to adequately support education is important. This can lead to satisfaction and development on both sides of the student/educator relationship. Relevance to Practice Exploring student nurse perceptions of their learning is important when attempting to enhance educational practice in the clinical setting