Boosting Veteran Care: Nurses Lead the Way

Nurses are the backbone of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the biggest employer of nurses in the U. S. With over 120, 000 nurses caring for more than 9 million veterans, their role is huge. But there's a catch: not enough research has been done to make nursing care even better within the VHA. In November 2023, the VHA's Office of Research and Development and the Office of Nursing Services joined forces. They hosted a big conference called the State of the Art (SOTA) conference. The aim? To gather nurses, researchers, and leaders to brainstorm ways to enhance nursing care for veterans. Five key areas were identified: 1. Preventing and treating pressure injuries. 2. Improving care coordination. 3. Understanding how social factors impact health. 4. Determining the best nurse staffing models. 5. Enhancing the nursing work environment. But that's not all. They also realized the need for better data and more support for nursing research. These recommendations are now part of the VHA's 2024 research priorities. This means they will shape future research, policies, and practices. The goal is to strengthen nursing science and, in turn, improve care for veterans. However, it's important to think critically. While these steps are promising, will they be enough? How can nurses and researchers work together to make sure these changes happen? And what role do veterans themselves play in this process?