nursing journal article physical trauma battle's sign

nursing journal article physical trauma battle

As with other forms of cultural competence, nurses need to identify and understand the needs, help-seeking behaviors of our clients and tailor services that are culturally relevant. The first concept is military cultural competence. The purpose of this article is to describe two interrelated concepts that are important for understanding the mental health needs of service members, veterans, and their families. These efforts have produced volumes of new data, concepts, and clinical interventions to further understanding and improve the mental health and neurological care of service members and their families. Long-term goals for this funding were to improve access to care and quality of clinical services, and to promote innovations to improve the quality of life for injured and wounded service members and veterans. Annual Congressional funding for research, treatment, mental health promotion programs, and hiring clinical professionals remained near that level for over four years ( Institute of Medicine, 2014). Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007). Congress appropriated over $600 million to focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for military personnel ( U.S. The mental health impact on post 9/11 veterans alone includes post-traumatic stress (49% for combat veterans) family life strain (48%) anger management problems (47%) and readjustment problems (44%) ( Pew Research Center, 2011). This knowledge comes with a significant cost in lives, quality of life, and resources. Healthcare practices are one area where military culture and military healthcare policies have a direct impact on care and treatment across the continuum of care for both veterans and non-veterans.Īs in past wars, medical discoveries and knowledge have progressed tremendously over the past decade. Understanding how military culture, policies, and research may influence mental health behaviors, help-seeking, and therapeutic relationships is important to nursing practice in a wide range of settings. The remainder of veteran’s healthcare occurs in civilian healthcare facilities. Only 41% of veterans who qualify for benefits from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are enrolled in VHA care ( Kang, 2008). As of 2012, over 2.5 million women and men have served in GWOT combat with 1.56 million (78%) having left active duty and qualify for government care ( Bilmes, 2013). There is yet another American generation whose adolescence and young adulthood has been influenced, and arguably, defined by military culture and war. Department of State, 2009) and continues more than 13 years later with a shift in focus from direct combat mission to support and training in often dangerous areas of the world.

The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) officially began on Septem( U.S.

Nursing journal article physical trauma battle's sign