Step 2: Identify all the
uses of the concept
you can discover
The term vulnerability comes from
the latin, ‘vulnerabilis’ and ‘vulnerare’
meaning ‘to wound’. The Oxford Dictionary
(1991) defines vulnerable as: ‘...that which
may be wounded or harmed; exposed to
damage by a weapon; criticism'. It is also
seen as: ‘the ability to be easily physically,
emotionally or mentally hurt, influenced or
attacked’ (Cambridge Dictionaries Online
2014).
In general literature, the term denotes
disaster or danger. For example, in the
technological field of computer science
vulnerability relates to potential security
risks to data or stored information (Dorsen
2010). Environmentally vulnerable
describes potential natural disaster
phenomena, or within biological spheres
it alludes to endangered species and
extinction issues (Turner et al 2003). The
medical discipline attaches the term to
disease development, its progression and
subsequent complications (Mechanic &
Tanner 2007). Dorsen (2010) however
views the concept of vulnerability as part
of all social science and health disciplines
and suggests that the nursing profession
was founded upon meeting the needs of
the vulnerable.