On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the nation marks Veterans Day, the annual observance that honors the service and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans. For nurses, the day carries a particular resonance. Many of our colleagues have worn both the uniform and the stethoscope, delivering care in field hospitals, aboard ships, in austere environments, and in military treatment facilities at home and abroad.
Military nursing has long drawn on values that translate directly into the profession: honor, courage, and commitment. Those who served as Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Public Health Service nurses learned leadership under pressure, adaptability in constrained settings, and a deep sense of responsibility for the people in their care. Many carried those lessons into civilian practice, VA facilities, and community settings, where they continue to influence standards of care, mentorship, and patient advocacy.
Veteran nurses also bring an understanding of military culture that few others possess. They recognize the invisible wounds—traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, toxic exposures, and the cumulative effects of deployment—that shape health long after service ends. That insight strengthens the care they provide to fellow veterans and models for the rest of us what culturally competent practice looks like.
All nurses, whether they have served or not, can contribute to better outcomes for the approximately 15.8 million veterans in the United States. A simple, evidence-informed starting point remains the question promoted by the American Academy of Nursing’s “Have You Ever Served?” initiative: “Have you or has someone close to you ever served in the military?” Asking it opens the door to more accurate assessment, appropriate referrals, and the validation many veterans need.
Today we extend our appreciation to every nurse who once wore the uniform and to every nurse who continues to care for those who have served. Your dual commitment to country and to the profession strengthens both. Thank you for your service—then and now.
