How is treating a military/vet patient different from other patients?

[sergel02, BSN]

Hi all, I was wondering if you could help me. My colleagues and I were discussing nursing considerations to, uhh consider, when taking care of vets. Some of us think that it's not really any different and nothing special to consider, especially since you can't tell who is a vet or not unless you have that info prior, but others think they are a unique group, but aren't sure how you would treat, approach, or communicate with and vets any differently.

Any thoughts or advice?

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

For the most part no. If you are at a military facility you will be caring for a younger healthily population with some retirees throw in.

[lidleanjel]

There is not true difference when you get to the basic caring of a veteran vs civilian. The difference is to understand that these veterans often have various chronic illnesses and various psychological problems. Veterans are often labeled non compliant and withdrawn. They also can get aggressive quickly and frequently. Combat veterans are definitely different than veterans who have not been to war and have the most issues per se. Many times veterans have control issues because when they feel like they do not have control over the situation they are in danger. You must remember some have faced death on various occasions. They also need their psych meds if they have been on them long term. Taking care of a veteran who is going through a blind PTSD exacerbation can be the fight of their life at the moment and people have a hard time understanding. They can be very harsh in tone and sometimes you have to give the harshness back in order to be considered someone who is trying to help. It's not easy to brake their shell but it is essential in order to find out what is going on and many times things are occurring because they do not want to be consider WEAK. Military and veterans are taught from the first day of boot camp that they are weak if they are sick or injuries and they are WEAK if they need to go to a doctor. So many wait until they are so sick they cannot do anything. Taking care of a veteran it is important to give them options so they can have some control, explain things to their understanding so they can trust you and this will often decrease their noncompliantness and anxiety.

I work with various veterans in a VA hospital, married to a combat veteran and lived the military lifestyle, and have many family and friends who are combat veterans. Life is different and it is often not understood what they have experienced and seen in their lives. They do have very unique issues that are often overlooked by some Heath care providers. So it's not really that you care for military/veterans differently you just need to take a more holistic approach to care and treatments.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

My experience is better much the opposite. Combat vets for the most part that I treated were not demanding, had control. The ones which I had the most issue with is the ones who only were in the service a short time and thought they were owed something. Some of those vets would not even qualify today. Yes, when vets are going thru issues it can be trying but after working a civilian ER in a poor community I seen a lot of the same behaviors in that ED as what I seen in the VA in the same area.

What this shows is that treating vets is like treating non-vets it will be the same but be different depending on where you are located at. Treating inner city patients is going to be different than treating rural patients.