About Have You Ever Served in the Military?

Managed and designed by the American Academy of Nursing, Have You Ever Served in the Military? is an initiative to improve the health of Veterans. Have You Ever Served in the Military? encourages healthcare providers to ask about and document their patients’ military background.

Nurses and other healthcare providers are given a pocket card listing the most common health concerns linked to military service, as well as questions the provider should ask the Veteran or his or her family member in order to obtain a more complete military medical history. This information assists providers in identifying possible health factors or illnesses related to service and decreasing the time between diagnosis and treatment.

The Academy’s Military & Veterans Health Expert Panel, formed in 2011, studies service members’ health care and develops policy recommendations. To facilitate outreach and proper referral for veterans, the Military & Veterans Health Expert Panel recommended launching Have You Ever Served in the Military? .

Have You Ever Served in the Military? represents the Academy’s commitment to former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces campaign, which mobilized all sectors of the community to support Veterans and their families. Nurses, healthcare’s equivalent to the boots on the ground, are uniquely positioned to facilitate a fundamental change in care which ensures vital military service information is obtained and recorded in order to improve the quality of healthcare provided to our Veterans and their families.

In 2013, the Academy, with the assistance and cooperation of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, launched Have You Ever Served in the Military?  in 10 states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. By April of 2015, Have You Ever Served in the Military? was rolled out in all 50 states. 

If you have questions or would like to join the campaign, please contact the Academy at AANinfo@AANnet.org.

Healing the Wounds of War

Linda Schwartz, a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, former U.S. Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary of Policy and Planning and former Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veteran's Affairs, spoke at the Academy's 2013 policy conference in Washington, DC about the unique health concerns of military Veterans.

Policy Background & Solution

On behalf of the Academy, fellows and experts on Veterans health published background on the problems facing Veterans health and how this initiative provides one solution.

The research and policy brief appeared in the September 2013 issue of Nursing Outlook, a bi-monthly journal, which provides innovative ideas for nursing leaders through peer-reviewed articles and timely reports. 

About Joining Forces

Former First Lady and Dr. Biden have met with military families, learned about their successes and challenges, and made it their priority to support them. Joining Forces, a comprehensive national campaign, mobilizes all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. Learn more about Joining Forces.

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