Transitioning from military medics to registered nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing Workforce Development
• Military Health Transition
• Higher Education Initiatives

Background:

• The United States is projected to face a deficit of 260,000 registered nurses (RNs) by 2025, with critical shortages in states like California and Florida.
• Existing educational pathways may not fully leverage the clinical skills and experience of transitioning military personnel.
• Veterans often encounter challenges such as underemployment and lack of skill recognition upon civilian reintegration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the effectiveness of a specialized program in transitioning military medics and corpsmen into Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared RNs.
• To address the national nursing shortage by utilizing the existing skills of military clinical personnel.
• To support the successful reintegration of veterans into the civilian healthcare workforce.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Veteran Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) program at Florida International University's Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
• A cooperative agreement between Florida International University and the US Health Resources and Services Administration.
• Curriculum designed to build upon the leadership, clinical education, and training of military medics and corpsmen.

Main Results:

• The VBSN program successfully recruits, retains, and graduates transitioning military veterans as RNs.
• Graduates are prepared to meet the healthcare needs of the general population, with a particular aptitude for caring for veteran populations.
• The program helps mitigate challenges faced by veterans, including skill recognition, unemployment, and income instability.

Conclusions:

• Transitioning military clinical personnel represent a valuable, underutilized resource for alleviating the nursing shortage.
• Specialized programs like VBSN can effectively bridge the gap between military service and civilian nursing careers.
• This initiative offers a dual benefit of strengthening the nursing workforce and supporting veteran employment and well-being.