Veteran-Centered Care in Education and Practice

Book excerpt: Veteran-Centered Care in Education and Practice: An Essential Guide for Nursing Faculty addresses the mandate to improve veteran healthcare as a national priority, highlighting the tremendous impact nurses can make on improving veteran health. It provides guidance on how faculty can integrate veteran-centered care into nursing curricula, ultimately improving veteran-centered care at the bedside and in the community. The expert authors utilize a holistic approach to veteran needs, beginning with an overview of the importance of veteran health in nursing education and a primer of military culture and lifestyle, and transitions. A wide range of veteran-specific healthcare issues are addressed, including occupational and environmental exposures, common physical-related issues, mental-health issues, and special topics such as women's health and military sexual trauma, gender issues, and end-of-life concerns. ; This book offers innovative teaching and learning strategies to build a base of knowledge related to nursing prioritization of veteran health care needs, filling a notable gap in nursing literature. It includes teaching strategies for the classroom and clinical setting that graduate/undergraduate nurse educators may employ to integrate veteran content into existing courses or to build a Veteran Health elective or topics course. It outlines key competencies and essential knowledge faculty and students need to teach and provide basic veteran-centered care. Also covered are the expansion of Veteran-to-BSN programs, current research on veterans transitioning to the classroom, and strategies to enhance learning within this student population and maximize their skills and leadership abilities. Key Features: Discusses national and organizational efforts to improve veteran-centered care Guides nursing faculty on how to address the multifaceted nature of veteran health needs in existing nursing courses and curricula at all educational levels Outlines key competencies and essential knowledge faculty and students need to teach and provide basic veteran-centered care Includes evidence-based instructional strategies and resources to incorporate into classroom and clinical settings Features learning activities to enhance knowledge acquisition Details the unique needs of the veteran student population, as well as strategies to enhance their learning, while maximizing their skills and leadership abilities