Realizing the Future of Nursing: VA Nurses Tell Their Story

This remarkable compilation of stories and experiences described by 145 VA nurses, physicians, and associated healthcare staff, as well as community partners in both academia and business, provides an extraordinary view into the nation's largest healthcare system.  There are many moving narratives that focus on specific innovations designed to improve the quality and safety of Veteran care from the "headquarters" perspective.   In addition, individual VA staff shared their unique experiences from the "field" perspective.  Taken together, these create a powerful picture of remarkable commitment and dedication, extreme challenges, and exceptional success.

The 27 chapters contained within this book will provide healthcare executives with a unique road-map for ground-breaking strategic approaches to leadership, communication, evidenced-based practice, academic partnerships, utilizing data to drive improvements and add value, and developing a team-based, non-traditional, highly adaptable and functional workforce.

The stories told in this book reflect the hard work and dedication of the Veterans Affairs nurses who provide care to our nation’s heroes. Four key messages outlined in the book help explain the important role of VA nurses.

• Key Message 1: Nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training;
• Key Message 2: Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression;
• Key Message 3: Nurses should be full partners, along with physicians and other health care professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States; and
• Key Message 4: Effective workforce planning and policy-making require better data collection and an improved information structure.

Related Products:

A Contemporary History of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-023-00139-1

The Army Nurse Corps: A Commemoration of World War II Service (Pamphlet) is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-029-00295-7

Borden's Dream: The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-023-00135-9

Builders of Trust: Biographical Profiles From the Medical Corps Coin is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-01059-5

People training to be nurses, physicians and healthcare staff, and those currently working in the medical field (especially VA medical professionals), and others in the medical and academic professions will find this book useful as a resource to improve the medical workforce and its practices.