The Montana Pulse - August 2019
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<strong>August</strong>, September, October <strong>2019</strong> <strong>Montana</strong> Nurses Association <strong>Pulse</strong> Page 9<br />
Professional Development Department<br />
How Do You Prepare to Work with Veterans?<br />
On June 6 th , 2018, the President signed into effect<br />
the VA MISSION ACT for covered veterans to receive<br />
necessary hospital care, medical services and extended<br />
care services from non-VA entities or providers in the<br />
community. This rule became effective June 6 th , <strong>2019</strong>.<br />
Veterans have very unique needs related to their<br />
service experience; types of physical, mental, and<br />
emotional situations to which they were exposed; location<br />
of deployment; and many other factors. We know that<br />
rates of illness and suicide are very high among the<br />
veteran population. <strong>The</strong>ir families have complex needs, as<br />
well.<br />
What are the interfaces between the VA and civilian<br />
health care sectors? What factors impact benefits for<br />
veterans and their families? How can we be sensitive<br />
Mary Thomas, BA, RN<br />
RN Professional<br />
Development Associate<br />
to their needs, respectful in our care, and diligent in ensuring safe and effective<br />
interventions? How can we work effectively within our health care teams to meet<br />
veterans’ needs?<br />
On Thursday, November 7, <strong>2019</strong>, MNA will offer our fourth annual conference,<br />
“Seamless Health Care for Our Veterans,” jointly provided with the VA<br />
Healthcare Center, Fort Harrison, the <strong>Montana</strong> Geriatric Education Center,<br />
and the <strong>Montana</strong> Primary Care Association. This conference offers a unique<br />
opportunity for nurses and other members of the healthcare team to learn<br />
information, identify resources, discover tools to help civilian and VA healthcare<br />
providers meet the needs of this very special patient population, and network<br />
with colleagues from around the state.<br />
It’s become common practice to ask patients, “Have you ever served in the<br />
military?” But what do you do with the answer to that question? Another question<br />
to ask a veteran is “What is the one thing you would want your doctor, nurse,<br />
therapist, employer, etc. to know about you as a veteran?”<br />
How does the answer influence your care plan and future interactions with that<br />
individual and significant others?<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a plethora of Military Culture information provided by the Bureau of<br />
Veterans Affairs. One resource I found was the PsychArmor Institute (https://<br />
psycharmor.org) which provides critical resources to Americans so they can<br />
effectively engage with and support military service members, Veterans and their<br />
families across our nation.<br />
It listed 15 Things that Veterans want YOU to know: I found the following<br />
fascinating:<br />
1. We are not all soldiers<br />
2. Reserves are part of the military<br />
3. Not everyone in the military is infantry (in tanks, on patrol, etc.)<br />
4. Military has leaders at every level in the chain of command<br />
5. Military is always on duty<br />
6. Take pride in appearance and conduct<br />
7. We did not all kill someone<br />
8. We do not all have PTSD<br />
9. Those of us who do have invisible wounds of war are not dangerous or<br />
violent<br />
10. It’s hard to ask for help<br />
11. Our military service changes us<br />
12. We differ in how much we identify with the military after we leave active<br />
duty<br />
13. Our families serve with us<br />
14. We would die for each other and our country<br />
15. We all made this sacrifice for one reason: to serve something more<br />
important than ourselves<br />
Each year, conference topics are selected based on identified needs<br />
of providers and patients. This year’s conference will include sessions on<br />
Managing Pain in Addiction and Medication Assisted Recovery, Traumatic Brain<br />
Injury diagnosis and management and cognitive behavior therapy for PTSD,<br />
management of Insomnia and case management in assisting veterans and<br />
soldiers in accessing veterans’ benefits and care.<br />
<strong>The</strong> conference will be held at the Education Center in the Lower Commons<br />
at Carroll College in Helena on Thursday, November 7 th , <strong>2019</strong>. We are also video<br />
broadcasting to host sites around this big state to bring this wonderful event to<br />
all interested healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals will register on the<br />
CNEbyMNA Website and may attend remotely in Lewistown, Glasgow, Miles<br />
City and Missoula. Details will be posted on the website also. All healthcare<br />
professionals are invited to attend! Please consider this resource for you and<br />
your colleagues. To register and view the agenda, go to our website at www.<br />
cnebymna.<br />
Be sure to check out our<br />
CNEbyMNA Website for<br />
Continuing Education<br />
opportunities. Sign up<br />
for upcoming events and<br />
online learning courses. It is<br />
constantly updated with new<br />
Webinars and Courses for your<br />
continued learning!<br />
*<strong>Montana</strong> Nurses<br />
Association is accredited<br />
with distinction as a provider<br />
of continuing nursing<br />
education by the American<br />
Nurses Credentialing<br />
Center’s Commission on<br />
Accreditation*<br />
$15.00 $15.00<br />
What is Your<br />
Learning<br />
Environment?<br />
see more<br />
$15.00 $15.00<br />
Transitions of<br />
Care:<br />
Interfacility<br />
Transfers<br />
Performing<br />
a Quick and<br />
Helpful Physical<br />
Assessment<br />
see more<br />
Quick Review of<br />
12-lead ECG<br />
see more<br />
see more<br />
www.cnebymna.com
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