An exploration of civilian nurses’ knowledge of the military culture

Background: In fiscal year 2019, approximately $78 million was spent on veteran medical care alone apart from other civilian costs. Some veterans state their health care providers do not understand the military culture, which makes them uncomfortable seeking care in the private sector. Method: A nonexperimental cross-sectional study was conducted using a conve-nience sample of 127 RNs who completed an electron-ic survey of the Military Culture Certificate Program. Results: The total overall mean on the Knowledge and Awareness subscale was 4.38 of 6, representing a modest level of military knowledge. The Confidence in Skills and Abilities subscale also scored at a modest level, with an overall mean of 81.3 of 100. Although the nurses demonstrated modest knowledge levels of military culture and confidence skills, there were low scores in veteran referral to the appropriate resources. Conclusion: It is essential to educate nurses regarding how and where to refer veterans to the appropriate resources. Further studies should expand on this work.