Jonas Center establishes nursing scholars program for veterans health

In recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of the nation's veterans, the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence has established the Jonas Nursing Scholars Program for Veterans Health. The program aims to improve the health of veterans, notably those of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, by supporting doctoral-level nursing candidates who are committed to advancing veterans health care, from patient care to policy and administration.

Believed to be the first of its kind, the program will formally launch next fall seeded by $500,000. The Jonas Center's goal is to support 50 nursing scholars across the nation in 2012 and further expand the program in the coming years. The first PhD/DNP cohort includes five students from the University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing, selected as the pilot site for the program.

"Nurses are key professionals on a veteran's health care team, and veterans may confide information about their mental and physical health and their deepest concerns about recovery that they may not be comfortable sharing with others," said Gale S. Pollock, Major General (Retired), former interim Army Surgeon General, CRNA, FACHE, FAAN. "The Jonas program will go a long way toward better preparing nurses to care for the unique and growing needs of veterans."

Each scholar will receive $10,000 from the Jonas Center to pursue research focused on veterans' health needs identified by the White House and the Veterans Administration (VA). Priority selection will be given to nursing scholar candidates with veteran-health care experience, either through active duty or work with the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense and the Public Health Service. Thus, many of the scholars will be veterans themselves.

An estimated 39,000 troops will be returning home by year's end, joining the nation's 22.2 million veterans. It is widely reported that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have served more tours of duty than in any previous war, resulting in an alarming rate of psychological and physical health issues. For example:

• Veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars represented four percent of total VA mental-health visits in 2006, a number that tripled to 12 percent last year.
• One veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan attempts suicide every 80 minutes; more than 1,800 veterans made suicide attempts in 2009 alone.
• Upwards of 360,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans may have suffered brain injuries. Among them are 45,000 to 90,000 veterans whose symptoms persist and warrant specialized care.
• Approximately 20 percent of the 1.7 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression.

"The tremendous health challenges facing our veterans require a specially trained workforce and this program is a significant first step in preparing nurses to be on the frontlines of veterans' care," said Darlene Curley, Executive Director, Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence. "The Jonas Nursing Scholars Program for Veterans Health will help change the landscape in two significant ways: first by providing returning veterans with a significant academic opportunity to pursue the highest level nursing degree; and second, ensuring that veterans – now and in the future – receive optimum care." (Listen to a podcast with Curley.)

Partnering academic institutions will help select scholars. Universities affiliated with a VA and/or Department of Defense health care organization will also be given priority in the selection process. Among the research areas that the nursing scholar candidates will pursue include: mental health, poly-trauma, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, prosthetics, vision impairment, aging and women's health.

The Jonas Nursing Scholars Program for Veterans Health builds on the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program, an ongoing effort to address the nation's continuing shortage of nursing faculty. The Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program currently supports nearly 60 doctoral nursing students; it is on track to support more than 250 scholars across all 50 states by 2013, including those in the Veterans Health program.

"There is an urgent need to reassess, improve and provide resources for veteran health care. The Jonas Nursing Scholars Program for Veterans Health is but one way we can contribute directly to restoring the well being of so many who put their lives on the line to defend our nation's freedom," said Donald Jonas, founder.