“Have You Ever Served?”: Implications for Radiology Nurses Caring for Veterans

In practice settings, both inpatient and outpatient, it is common for health-care professionals to have had little or no contact with veterans. There is little in nursing programs that addresses the needs of veterans. The purpose of this article to is to present information that will broaden radiology nurses’ background in the care of veterans. The basis for the article is the importance of identifying patients who have served in the military. The significance of this information includes recognizing veterans for their service, identifying conditions that correlate to military service, and planning care that incorporates factors that are specific to veterans. The article is based on the work of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, championed by the American Academy of Nursing, as well as community health care organizations that have instituted measures to identify veterans.