Nursing Schools Support Joining Forces

Joining Forces is a comprehensive national campaign launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they deserve. Joining Forces is calling on all health professionals to be aware of the specific health issues facing service members, veterans, and their families. With the end of the war in Iraq and the drawdown in Afghanistan, over one million service members are projected to leave the military in the next five years. Some will return amputees, and some will quietly suffer with the “invisible wounds of war,” including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, and other challenges. Our nation’s nurses must be prepared to care for this distinct patient population.

Joining Forces: Nurse Commitment Fact Sheet - Office of the First Lady (PDF) »

Together with the larger healthcare community, nurse educators are encouraged to commit to raising the quality of care available to our nation’s military and veterans in our work to prepare future generations of nurses. For more information on Joining Forces, see www.joiningforces.gov or www.ANAJoiningForces.org.

AACN’s Joining Forces Webinar Series Begins May 2

To showcase innovative approaches to preparing nurses to care for service members and veterans, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is planning a free Webinar series to commence in conjunction with National Nurses Week in May. AACN is currently seeking presenters to participate in an online panel presentation scheduled for May 2, 2012 at 2:00 pm EST. Nursing faculty and researchers wishing to share their work as part of this series are encourage to contact AACN’s Director of Faculty Programs Laura Petri and share details about your educational approach. Dr. Petri can be reached at lpetri@aacn.nche.edu or 202-463-6930, ext. 270.

Photo (left to right):
Lieutenant John Spannuth, U.S. Navy; Major Melissa Smith, U.S. Air Force; Ada Sue Hinshaw, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Captain Bradley Cooper, U.S. Navy; and Afaf I. Meleis, PhD, DrPS(hon), FAAN, Dean, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.