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Caring for Veterans

Caring for Veterans in Every Healthcare Setting

Nurses: learn how to identify and care for veterans with compassion and expertise.

Why This Matters

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

Unique Health Challenges

Veterans experience higher rates of chronic physical 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 nurses by outlining best practices when caring for veterans and can be found on their webpage:  https://www.healthquality.va.gov/

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. Emphasize that these steps help tailor care to their needs.
  • Instill hope and empower them. Reassure veterans that they’re not alone.

Resources & Education

Each year, approximately 200,000 service members leave 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.

Nurses are uniquely positioned to support veterans as they navigate the unfamiliar civilian healthcare system. Asking if they have served in the military helps identify veteran status and opens the door to more personalized care. Following up with “When did you serve?” 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:

Additional Resources for Veterans 

Many veterans are unaware of the full benefits they have earned, including access to healthcare. 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.

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/

ANA Member Resources

Education

  • LMS Link to webinars when available

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