The U.S. Department of Defense is categorized into different branches: Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard.

Veterans refer to individuals who have actively served in any branch of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Veterans learned their military culture through a long time of training and active service, and they may carry this culture along their post-deployment life.

Each branch of U.S. Forces holds its own military culture. Yet there are some common military culture shared among all, which are discipline, loyalty, military rank, etc.

Apart from the health care benefits, the VA also assists the veterans in education and training, career and employment, monthly pension and compensation, housing loans, burials and memorials, etc.

Family members of veterans such as spouses, dependent children, or family caregivers can also be qualified for health care benefits, education assistance, life insurance, etc.

Veterans may experience many health issues such as PTSD, military sexual trauma, Agent Orange, TBI, infectious diseases (e.g. Gulf War illness) due to long-term exposure to traumatic events in the past.

As a result, they may suffer from difficult living conditions associated with their health, which can be substance use, homelessness, suicide, etc.

There are more than 2 million women veterans living in the U.S. today.

In 1983, the Congress passed a law to protect women veterans from discrimination and unequal access to benefits they had endured compared to their fellow men veterans.

Gaining a comprehensive understanding of VA healthcare and their various health services helps nurses provide better patient advocacy and education.

The nurses also play an important role in collaborating with the social work team to maximize resource utilization.

Nurses performing a complete physical assessment is crucial to early identifying possible health issues as well as initiating timely treatment.

Nurses should provide appropriate patient education about their current health condition, available treatment options, etc.

Nurses should encourage veteran patients to have regular follow-ups to monitor the treatment process closely.

Interprofessional interventions are necessary to provide patients with adequate treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, and resources.

Performing a social assessment to evaluate the patient's social relationships, history of substance use, etc.

Utilizing patient interview or questionnaire method to recognize patient's difficulties in accessing basic needs such as food, clothes, housing, transportation, etc.

Referring the patients to the social work team to search for available resources that can assist them with basic needs (e.g. shelter, food stamps, etc.)

PTSD is a serious mental health condition when the patients react to their traumatic events (e.g. war and combat, MST, terrorism, etc.)

The reactions to traumatic events develop over time and vary among individual veterans, but commonly seen are fear, anxiety, insomnia, irritation, nightmares, social withdrawal, etc.

The VA Statistics reports that 23% of veterans have PSTD.

PTSD increases the risk of chronic physical illnesses, depression, dementia, suicide, etc.

PTSD is one of the VA's priorities in providing care for the veteran.

Veterans are parts of families. They are impacted by their family members in some way.

The family contribution can influence treatment outcome.

Families provide significant emotional support and give the patients power to overcome their health conditions.

Families hold a certain responsibility in the care of patients, especially when the patients become more dependent and need their family members to help them with important decisions during the treatment process.

Nurses should always thinking family when caring for veterans and their families.

The nurses need to clarify the role of each family member and the patient's preference of which family member they may be closer to to provide comfort and effective care.

Giving appropriate education to patients and their family members about the patient's condition, treatment options, available resources, etc.

Assessing family members for physical, mental, or spiritual needs and offering adequate assistance without judgment.

Providing effective communication to build trust with the family members.