Nurses throughout history and in modern times have been concerned about vulnerable populations. To understand how to assist these populations, the nurse must first understand that the term vulnerable refers to what population?

Question

A) Process in which individuals in certain groups seem not to matter to the rest of society.
B) Focus on the health needs of populations who have been relegated to the margins of society.
C) Treat someone or something as if the individual is of no consequence or is unimportant.
D) Social group who experiences limited resources and consequent high relative risk for morbidity and premature mortality.

Answer 1

Ans: D
"Vulnerable" stems from the Latin word vulnare, which means "to wound." This terminology implies that the wounded or the "less than perfect" are not particularly valued and easily marginalized. By using the terminology of marginalization instead, the emphasis is societal. Vulnerable populations are social groups who experience limited resources and consequent high relative risk for morbidity and premature mortality. The word marginalizes means to treat someone or something as if he or she is of no consequence or is unimportant. Marginalization conveys a process in which individuals in certain groups seem not to matter or to be of little concern to the rest of society, thus falling beyond the margins. To marginalize or be marginalized may be more accurate terminology than the concept of vulnerability, which may imply a degree of "blaming the victim."