Realizing the Future of Nursing: VA Nurses Tell Their Story

Book excerpt: The stories told in this book reflect the hard work and dedication of the Veterans Affairs nurses who provide care to our nation’s heroes. Four key messsages outlined in the book help explain the important role of VA nurses. Key Message 1: Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training; Key Message 2: Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression; Key Message 3: Nurses should be full partners, with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States; Key Message 4: Effective workforce planning and policy making require better data collection and an improved information structure. This book addresses the staffing issues in military healthcare with policy and workforce planning towards an improved information structure between the nurses, healthcare professionals, and physicians. Keywords: Department of Veterans Affairs nursing program; Veteran Affairs (VA) nursing; nurses; Veterans Affairs nursing education progrm; VA nursing education program; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; u.s. department of veterans affairs; va; VA; staffing issues in military healthcare.