Caring for Veterans

Caring for Veterans in Every Healthcare Setting

Why This Matters

The U.S. is home to more than 15 million veterans, yet only about 9 million are enrolled in healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Many veterans receive care in the community where their military service may go unrecognized. This gap underscores the critical need for all healthcare providers to recognize and understand veterans’ unique health risks.

Unique Health Challenges

Veterans experience higher rates of chronic physical health conditions, physical injuries, mental health disorders, traumatic brain injury, and substance use disorders. Exposure to toxic chemicals during military service can increase veterans’ risk of cancer and long‑term illnesses. Early identification and timely evidence‑based treatment are essential to improving outcomes.

The VA and Department of Defense develop and publish evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) addressing chronic disease in primary care, mental health, pain, rehabilitation, and women’s health. These guidelines support healthcare providers by outlining best practices when caring for veterans and can be found on their webpage: https://www.healthquality.va.gov/

More information on caring for veterans with a history of toxic environmental exposure is available at: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/PUBLICHEALTH/exposures/providers/index.asp

Communication Strategies

Nurses play a vital role in creating a respectful environment for veterans and supporting their health goals. The following strategies can help guide effective, compassionate care:

Create a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment.
Reinforce healthcare confidentiality and explain any limits.
Take time to establish trust and build rapport. Show respect for personal boundaries.
Validate their experiences and feelings. Acknowledge the courage it takes to talk about their health.
Explain the purpose behind your screening questions.
Reassure veterans that they’re not alone. Instill hope and empower them.

Resources & Education

Each year, approximately 200,000 service members separate from the military, a shift that brings major life changes. New routines, evolving family roles, relocation, and financial adjustments often occur all at once, and can create significant stress during this period of transition.

Nurses are uniquely positioned to support veterans and their families as they navigate the unfamiliar civilian healthcare system. Asking every individual if they have served in the military helps identify veteran status and opens the door to individualized care. Following up with questions about when they served provides valuable context about their specific health needs.

The American Academy of Nursing’s Have You Ever Served?™ Initiative offers resources to support nurses in caring for veterans including the Have You Ever Served in the Military?™ Pocketcard, which can be found on their webpage: https://aannet.org/page/HaveYouEverServed

There are free resources available online to support education and training for nurses caring for veterans:

VA Cultural Competence Training through Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRREC), Center of Excellence: https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn2/education/vcc.asp
PsychArmor: https://psycharmor.org/
Center for Deployment Psychology: https://deploymentpsych.org/
ECRI SALUTE Provider Training Webinars: https://home.ecri.org/pages/ecri-salute-program-educational-webinars
Faculty Toolkit from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing: https://www.aacnnursing.org/our-initiatives/education-practice/faculty-tool-kits/veterans-care-faculty-tool-kit

Resources for Veterans

Many veterans are unaware of the full benefits they have earned. The VA Welcome Kit provides an easy overview of healthcare, housing, education, employment, financial, and memorial benefits. Nurses and veterans can access the kit on their webpage: www.va.gov/welcome-kit.

Veterans who may have been exposed to toxic environmental hazards during military service can enroll in a VA health registry and may be eligible for a free medical assessment. To learn more, go to: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits/registry-evaluation.asp

Share with veterans how they can access their earned benefits:

Be aware of the VA Healthcare system in your area www.va.gov/find-locations and your State Department of Veteran Affairs www.nacvso.org/state-departments-of-veterans-affairs.

It is important to connect unhoused veterans and veterans at imminent risk of losing housing with supportive services. Nurses can contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for a free and confidential discussion with a trained VA counselor to assist in locating local VA homeless programs 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Veterans, family members, or non-VA providers are encouraged to call. Additional information about these supportive services can be found here: https://www.va.gov/homeless/

The Veterans Crisis Line provides confidential crisis support for veterans and their loved ones 7 days a week, 24 hours a day by calling 988 then press 1, texting 838255 or using the Veterans Crisis Line chat feature. More information on this crisis support service can be found at: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/