State of Constant Readiness: Lessons Learned From the Military.

The purpose of this article is to compare and discuss the preparation of civilian and military nurses in meeting the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. The military nursing system exemplifies a program of ongoing training and evaluations to prepare nurses to care for patients in austere environments. The lessons learned during the pandemic include adapting, collaborating, and expanding current practices in nursing to train and validate nursing skills continuously. The COVID-19 pandemic brought out the best in nursing and also provided a platform for further advancements toward organizing and delivering extraordinary care under unexpected circumstances.

Predictors of student veterans progression and graduation in Veteran to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) Programs: A multisite study.

BACKGROUND: Capitalizing on the veteran's extensive service experience, values, and norms, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) proposed Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Veterans' Bachelor of Science (VBSN) Program grants (2016-2019). PURPOSE: The purpose was to identify predictors of student veterans' (SV) progression and graduation rates in VBSN programs. METHODS: A descriptive correlational retrospective design was used. Two hundred and eighty-two (282) SV records were examined. RESULTS: One hundred and forty (140) SVs graduated (49.6%) and 107 (37.9%) were still enrolled. Only program delivery mode (hybrid) was significantly associated with completion and confirmed by logistic regression modeling. An increased representation of SVs' gender, race/ethnicity was present; however, gender, age, race, ethnicity, and veteran status did not significantly predict progression nor graduation. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid program delivery became the single predictor influencing VBSN progression and graduation. As non-traditional students in higher education with a history of social isolation and help-seeking stigma, this delivery mode may have assisted SV retention and persistence. With a registered nurse shortage and workforce calls for increased gender, race, and ethnic diversity, the findings suggest nursing education programs designed for veterans are a viable solution.