Completion of this instructional unit demonstrates knowledge of health issues and concerns of the U.S. Military Veteran.
Challenge 1 I Challenge 2 I Challenge 3 I Challenge 4
Upon completion of the challenges required for this instructional unit, you will be able to:
- Define Veteran and branches of service.
- List healthcare issues and comorbidities of the Veteran.
- Describe the healthcare needs facing the U.S. Military Veteran.
- Understand the challenges of Veteran post-deployment social readjustment into civilian society.
- Identify local, regional, and national resources/community partners available for Veterans and their families.
Challenge 1: Who is a Veteran?
Work through Lesson 1 of the elearning module to garner an understanding of our veteran population.
To complete this challenge, work through Lesson 1 of the elearning module, Care of the U.S. Military Veteran, and reflect on your personal experiences and familiarity with U.S. Military Veterans. Use the following prompts to guide your reflection:
- Do you personally know any Veterans, i.e., friends, family, classmates? Are you a military Veteran? Which branch of the US military did you or the people you know serve in and when? How will your military background impact the way you will deliver care to Veterans in the community? Are any of the Veterans you know women or transgender Veterans?
- What stereotypes are you aware of, or may have possibly believed in, about military Veterans? Do you think there are there different stereotypes across the generations of military conflicts (e.g., Korean War Veterans, Vietnam War Veterans, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan/ Iraq War Veterans) or branches of service (e.g., Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard)
- What preconceived ideas or biases do you have about individuals who have served in the military? Do you think that there is a stigma associated with being a U.S. military Veteran?
- Do you think you can identify who has or has not served in the military, by looking at them? Please explain your answer.
Challenge 2: Veteran Health Concerns
Work through Lesson 2 of the elearning module to garner an understanding of our veteran population.
To complete this challenge, work through Lesson 2 of the elearning module, Care of the U.S. Military Veteran, and reflect on your personal experiences and familiarity with U.S. Military Veterans. Use the following prompts to guide your reflection:
- How do you think you can assist military service Veterans, as a nurse in the community/ in a non-Veteran Health Administration (VHA) healthcare setting?
- Do you have strong opinions and beliefs about military, war, and warfare? Do you think your opinions have any impact on your work as a nurse? Describe how.
- Do you think you may have patients who are Veterans but do not share that they are Veterans? Why do you think some Veterans may not choose to share this part of themselves with you as nurse and/or other members of the healthcare team?
- What does the following statement mean to you, how do you think this statement pertains to Veterans, and how do you think this understanding will shape your nursing practice?
“Everyone has their own story. Veterans and others may have experiences and invisible wounds that I may not fully understand.”
Challenge 3: Resources
Work through Lesson 3 in the elearning module to learn about the resources available to assist Veterans.
To complete this challenge, work through Lesson 3 of the elearning module, Care of the U.S. Military Veteran, and reflect on your personal experiences and familiarity with U.S. Military Veterans. Use the following prompts to guide your reflection:
- Have you listened to Veterans talk about how it feels to come back to civilian life after serving in the military? What have you heard and learned?
- Do you think that there is a stigma associated with being a U.S. military Veteran?
- What challenges or difficulties do you think Veterans may encounter and experience upon returning home from military service?
- What questions would you want to ask a Veteran but feel that you cannot or should not ask. Explain why.
- Are Veterans treated as a marginalized population in society today? Is this different or the same as a generation ago? How do you think or know that Veterans may be a marginalized group in normative society/ culture? How do you think this may impact their access and utilization of healthcare in the community?
- What can you do to provide quality and caring to Veterans, regardless of what their military role and responsibilities may have entailed?
Challenge 4: Through the Eyes of the Veteran
Work through Lesson 4 in the elearning module to learn about the resources available to assist Veterans.
To complete this challenge, work through Lesson 4 of the elearning module, Care of the U.S. Military Veteran, and reflect on your personal experiences and familiarity with U.S. Military Veterans. Use the following prompts to guide your reflection:
- How knowledgeable are you about the history of wars and conflicts in which the US military has been involved?
- What does patriotism mean to you? What does service to your country mean to you? What does the US flag symbolize and stand for to you; your family?
- What do the federal holidays of Veterans Day and Memorial Day mean to you? Do you know the history or meaning of these federal holidays?
- Are there any military or Veteran monuments in the city that you live? What are the monument titles?
- Have you attended or observed a funeral of a Veteran? How did it differ from that of a non-military funeral?
- Have you ever visited a VA National Cemetery? Consider visiting the Abraham Lincoln VA National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.
- How do you think we show respect to Veterans and military service members, as a nation? Do you feel we are successful at welcoming, serving, and understanding Veterans in the United States? Or, is there room for improvement? Please explain.
- Have you tried to understand the Veteran culture, before? Did you feel that you succeeded? Explain why or why not.
- Does social justice pertain to Veterans in our communities? If yes, then explain how social justice pertains to the needs and experiences of Veterans.