West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses: Mental Health Conditions Common to Veterans and Their Families

Target Audience

West Virginia LPNs, RNs, APRNs, and other nursing professionals who provide care to veterans, family members of veterans, or clients whose military-related experiences may affect health, safety, communication, or care needs.

Teaching Method

Self-directed learning completed independently, with scenario-based reflection.

Overview

Veterans and their family members may experience mental health concerns related to military service, deployment, reintegration, injury, grief, trauma exposure, caregiving strain, or loss. This course focuses on common concerns such as post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, grief, suicide risk, substance use concerns, traumatic brain injury considerations, sleep disruption, anger, isolation, and family stress.

The course emphasizes the nursing professional’s role in observing changes, asking respectful questions, recognizing possible risks, responding within scope of practice, and connecting the client or family to appropriate support. Learners are not expected to diagnose mental health conditions. Instead, the course supports objective observation, timely reporting, appropriate documentation, and safe communication with the client, family, supervisor, provider, or emergency support when indicated.

Content is designed for practical use in home care, long-term care, assisted living, outpatient, community, and clinical settings. It addresses how to respond when a veteran or family member appears withdrawn, distressed, hopeless, agitated, overwhelmed, or at risk for harm. The course also reinforces professional boundaries, privacy, trauma-informed communication, and follow-up after urgent or emergency situations.

Learner Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Identify mental health conditions and related concerns commonly experienced by veterans and family members of veterans.
• Recognize observations and statements that may indicate increased risk, including suicide risk, depression, grief, trauma-related distress, substance use concerns, or family strain.
• Apply practical nursing responses, including respectful communication, objective documentation, reporting, referral awareness, and appropriate escalation for safety concerns.

Disclosure

The planner(s) and author(s) of this educational activity have disclosed that there are no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests related to the content of this course. This course is developed for educational purposes and does not receive commercial support.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this course is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the content is not guaranteed to be free from errors or omissions. Participants are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional for specific advice related to their circumstances. The creators and presenters of this course disclaim any liability for decisions made based on the information provided.