Arizona Nurse - October 2021
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<strong>October</strong>, November, December <strong>2021</strong> <strong>Arizona</strong> <strong>Nurse</strong> • Page 9<br />
American Academy of Nursing’s<br />
“Have You Ever Served?” Campaign<br />
Cheryl K. Schmidt, RN<br />
The American Academy of Nursing launched a program in 2015 called<br />
“Have You Ever Served?” This outreach program was designed to educate<br />
health care providers and veterans throughout the United States about<br />
the types of screening questions that should be embedded into electronic<br />
health records in both the Veterans Administration and civilian health care<br />
organizations. It also describes the health conditions related to military<br />
service during different eras, including the following:<br />
Exposure Risks Diseases Locations<br />
Radiation Exposure/<br />
Nuclear Weapons<br />
Agent Orange Exposure<br />
Camp Lejeune Water<br />
Contamination (1/1/57-<br />
12/31/87)<br />
Transfusions prior to<br />
1992, exposures to<br />
blood, shared personal<br />
items<br />
Exposure to Open Air<br />
Burn Pits<br />
Gulf War Syndrome<br />
Depleted Uranium<br />
Various cancers<br />
Various cancers,<br />
diabetes, heart disease,<br />
neuropathy, spina<br />
bifida in biologic<br />
children<br />
Various cancers,<br />
infertility, miscarriage,<br />
renal toxicity<br />
Hepatitis C<br />
Respiratory illnesses,<br />
wide variety of cancers<br />
Fibromyalgia, chronic<br />
fatigue, GI problems,<br />
cognitive impairment,<br />
various cancers,<br />
neurodegenerative<br />
diseases like ALS, MS<br />
Respiratory and kidney<br />
diseases from inhaling/<br />
ingesting heavy metals<br />
e.g., World War II, Gulf<br />
War, etc.<br />
e.g., Korea, Vietnam<br />
Camp Lejeune, NC;<br />
similar problems may<br />
have occurred in other<br />
military locations<br />
Vietnam<br />
Vietnam, Iraq,<br />
Afghanistan; now<br />
seeing similar illnesses<br />
in firefighters<br />
Gulf wars<br />
Gulf Wars, Bosnia,<br />
Afghanistan<br />
After I was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in 2012, I joined<br />
the Special Interest Group that explored issues related to the military. I served in<br />
the Army <strong>Nurse</strong> Corps Reserves for 22 years (1974-1996) and was injured while<br />
deployed for Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991. As a disabled veteran, I have<br />
talked with many other veterans and health care providers about the “Have You<br />
Ever Served?” campaign. During the past year, I started reading about diseases<br />
that firefighters were developing that were very similar to those resulting from<br />
exposure to the Burn Pits in the Middle East. I have shared information about<br />
the campaign with Fire Chiefs and any firefighters I meet and give them copies<br />
of the pocket card describing the campaign. I also shared it with Senator Paul<br />
Boyer (R-District 20), who sponsored SB 1450, which is intended to add language<br />
supporting screening and workman’s compensation for firefighters. I am also<br />
concerned about others who respond to fires, such as law enforcement and the<br />
American Red Cross, who do not wear protective turn-out gear like firefighters do.<br />
If anyone is interested in learning more about the “Have You Ever Served?”<br />
campaign, please visit HaveYouEverServed.com.<br />
Cheryl K. Schmidt, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN is a Clinical Professor at <strong>Arizona</strong><br />
State University,<br />
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation<br />
To access electronic copies of the<br />
<strong>Arizona</strong> <strong>Nurse</strong>, please visit<br />
http://www.nursingALD.com/publications<br />
Infectious Diseases<br />
Malaria, typhoid<br />
fever, viral hepatitis,<br />
leishmaniasis, TB,<br />
rabies<br />
Iraq, Afghanistan<br />
View our current openings and/or<br />
submit an application online at:<br />
www.rmch.org<br />
Rehoboth McKinley Christian<br />
Health Care Services is<br />
recruiting RNs for:<br />
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We offer a great working<br />
environment and competitive<br />
compensation package including<br />
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Quality Health Care, Close to Home<br />
Contact Brian Lalio<br />
Human Resources Manager<br />
Ph: 505.863.7189<br />
Fax: 505.726.6730<br />
or email at<br />
blalio@rmchcs.org<br />
1901 Red Rock Drive<br />
Gallup, NM 87301<br />
RMCHCS is an EEOC Employer<br />
Public Health <strong>Nurse</strong><br />
Clinical Care Coordinator<br />
Registered <strong>Nurse</strong><br />
Psychiatric <strong>Nurse</strong><br />
Resource Registered <strong>Nurse</strong><br />
Lactation Coordinator<br />
<strong>Nurse</strong> Executive<br />
APPLY NOW!<br />
Your Journey Starts Here!<br />
fdihb.org<br />
Cynthia Morris, <strong>Nurse</strong> Recruiter<br />
cynthia.morris@fdihb.org<br />
(928) 729-8429<br />
RELOCATION BONUSES AVAILABLE • EXCELLENT BENEFITS • IHS OR NURSECORP LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM ELIGIBLE
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