military veterans and their families.

military veterans and their families.

Advocating Efforts

The development of policy is necessary to getting veterans healthcare access and supporting their transitional process. Deyton et al. (2008) point out resources available are fragmented, and integration is essential. Policy at the Agency Secretary level requiring coordination of these resources can make this integration possible (Deyton et al., 2008). As a Navy veteran nurse, I’m responsible for advocating for policy to make the transition smooth for military veterans and their families.

Advocating skills necessary for a transitioning military veteran policy include grassroots lobbying. Nurses should focus on developing relationships with their local legislatures and educate those legislatures on nursing interests (Milstead, 2013). Milstead (2013) identifies nurse constituents as valuable resources in grassroots efforts and suggests nurses join specialty nurse organizations to develop the skills necessary. Nurses who anticipate lobbying for policy should educate themselves on the lawmaking process and ethics laws to be most effective in their efforts (Milstead, 2013). Development in advocacy skills to participate in grassroots efforts are necessary to support policy in helping military veterans and their families.

Nurses are responsible for advocating for the health of the populations (Laureate Education, 2012). In nurses’ daily lives, they develop relationships with clients and colleagues giving them the opportunity to show compassion and empower their clients and coworkers (Begley, 2010). With rapport built, nurses have the responsibility of spreading education about healthcare issues and holding their colleagues accountable (Begley, 2010). Dr. Peter Beilenson explained that, in the eyes of legislatures, nurses are constituents who care for their patients without a business agenda (Laureate Education, 2012). Nurses should realize their value and become active in advocacy efforts to help veterans and their families and other suffering populations.

References

Begley, A. (2010). On being a good nurse: Reflections on the past and preparing for the future. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(6), 525-532.

Deyton, L., Hess, W. J., & Jackonis, M. J. (2008, Winter). War, its aftermath, and U.S. health policy: Toward a comprehensive health program for America’s military personnel, veterans, and their families. Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 36(4), 677–689.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012g). The needle exchange program. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Milstead, J. A. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.