Any VA nurses or nurses that work directly with veterans?

SheriffLauren · Jul 29, 2018

Hi, I work at a VA in Seattle with psych patients. Personally I really like caring for the veterans with various dementias and who need assistance with adls due to advanced age. I feel like I'm doing old school quality care, I really enjoy spending time with them, walking with them and sitting talking to and comforting them. It's basic nursing and not flashy but I really enjoy it because my vets get allot out of it. I also really like admitting veterans for alcohol detox, they come in feeling bad about themselves and are prepared for staff to look down on them and I enjoy commending them on being brave enough to come it and try to detox and give them coaching and also education. sometimes these vets have never received positive support and I feel like it's really rewarding too. Furthermore most of the vets come in with ptsd and have never had proper education or support in their life regarding this issue and I feel its rewarding to give them this support and to educate them on resources and the real facts about whats going on with them.

Overall I love working with the vets they are the most polite and neat population I have ever worked with. i find civilians are ruder, more abusive to nurses and have unrealistic demands when compared to the veterans. Veterans are more likely to respect you and trust that you have been trained to do your job and know what you are doing and are trying to do it properly. Civilians are more accusatory, more demanding and more likely to become abuse to staff in my experience. (I have worked state, private and now federally in psych units). Interestingly the veterans are the highest risk population I have worked with (most likely to have psych issues and also to have psych emergencies) and yet they have been the safest population I have ever worked with.

the hardest part of my job is dealing with veterans who just cant achieve remission or treatment, they cant succeed in treatment programs for whatever reasons or constantly relapse. i find this frustrating and upsetting. we work hard to support them and it sucks when the treatment team just cant find a successful way to help the vet. doesn't happen often but it really sucks when it does.

I think to work with vets you should really have it in your mind what they sacrificed and what traumas they have gone through and really keep in mind they they are a person who deserves excellent nursing care and respect as a human being. just remember that, treat them as adults with respect and advocate for their well being as their nurse.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 29, 2018

Moved to Gov't/Military nursing forum.

Please know too that there are many veterans who just use regular healthcare, who do not have medical or mental health issues. You probably care for vets and may not even realize it.