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Cultural understanding goes beyond racial and ethnic diversity and is inclusive of vulnerable populations who are most susceptible to adverse psychological, physical, and social influences (Chesnay & Anderson, 2008 ). Educational instruction in schools of nursing are tasked with addressing advocacy, social justice, health disparities, and health care for vulnerable and diverse populations (American Association of Colleges of Nurses, 2008 ). Inclusion of these topics into nursing education can provide students with knowledge related to inequalities and discriminatory practice, thus increasing advocacy and social responsibility toward vulnerable groups. The complex health and social issues related to vulnerable populations requires educational instruction that supports students' ability to address the multidimensional elements that surround these groups and provide care for them. Exposure to a vulnerable population, such as the homeless, provides students with increased awareness of the issues related to health disparities, while also promoting introspective reflection on one's values and beliefs. Bailey (2010 ) attested to increased student exposure to vulnerable and diverse groups as a way to reduce bias and stereotypes, while supporting future caring encounters with these populations. Prior to nursing school, students may have had limited exposure working with vulnerable populations.
To address the complex issues surrounding vulnerable populations, a service-learning project was offered at a local homeless center to augment the students' community and public health clinical rotation. Service-learning offers experiential education, where student and community needs are paired, and provides a venue for learning, development, and commitment to the community (Jacoby, 1996 ). The purpose of the current project was to increase nursing students' exposure to vulnerable groups, such as the homeless, using a critical social theory (CST) lens. The application of a CST lens challenges students to see power structures and dominant norms prevalent in society (Sumner, 2010 ). This article describes students' experiences and responses to a service-learning project at a homeless center.
Critical Social Theory
CST is used to examine restrictive natures within society and to eliminate and emancipate dominant or alienating behaviors (Sumner, 2010 ). CST can be used to review underlying social relationships, where beliefs and ideologies related to health and health care can be questioned and examined. The use of a critical theory lens elucidates the social, economic,...