title: Opportunities, hurdles, solutions, and approaches to transition military veterans into professional nursing programs.
abstract: Capitalizing on the almost 2.2 million service members returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn (OIF) in Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, baccalaureate educators are encouraged to create realistic, applicable nursing transitional programs for the health and health-related oriented military veterans. Opportunities, hurdles, and solutions related to the veteran's unique socio-economic circumstances of education, finances, and advisement are provided so the potential veteran student is successful within the university's milieu. Transitional nursing educational interventions related to assessment, didactic, and clinical used by two baccalaureate nursing curriculums, including the eLineMilitary* (ELM) Program, provide approaches of how to propel the veteran's journey toward graduation in a professional nursing program. These interventions include modular didactic, competency based education, as well as the concentrated, collegial time within the Faculty/Clinical Coach triad for essential role modeling, care, and skills.
authors.affiliation: Professor and Director, Center for Innovation in Nursing Education, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Lubbock, TX 79430. Electronic address: patricia.allen@ttuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Nursing Consultant, Professor Emerita, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430. Electronic address: myrna.armstrong@tuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Myrna L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Director of Innovative Programs, College of Nursing and Health Sciences Texas A & M University Corpus Christi, Island Hall, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5805. Electronic address: Jason.saladiner@tamucc.edu.
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Saladiner
authors.affiliation: Dean and Professor, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas A & M University Corpus Christi, Island Hall, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5805.. Electronic address: Mary.hamilton@tamucc.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas A & M University Corpus Christi, Island Hall, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5805. Electronic address: patti.conard@tamucc.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Conard
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans
keywords: Advisement; Clinical Coach; Counseling; Education; Finance; Innovative program; Men; Military; Nursing education; PTSD; Service member; Veterans; Women; eLineMilitary