AACN Supports Joining Forces Wellness Week

AACN Supports Joining Forces Wellness Week and the Work Underway at Schools of Nursing to Better Meet Military Health Needs 

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 10, 2015 – In recognition of Veterans Day, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce its support and participation in Joining Forces Wellness Week 2015 (JFWW). JFWW was initiated to increase awareness about the unique health needs of our nation's veterans, service members, and their families by educating healthcare providers and students across the country. 
  
"AACN is proud to be a partner in the national Joining Forces campaign, which underscores the importance of enhancing the care available to veterans and active military personnel," said AACN Board Chair Eileen T. Breslin. "The sacrifice service men and women make to protect our nation deserves the upmost respect and as the voice for academic nursing, it is our responsibility to provide students and faculty with opportunities to further their education on providing optimal care to this patient population." 
  
The JFWW will host a series of five webinars focused on topics from generational differences of veterans and service members to incorporating veteran and military health into the health professions curricula. AACN member, Dr. Kent Blad, Associate Dean and Teaching Professor at Brigham Young University College of Nursing, will be one of the featured presenters. Dr. Blad has presented for AACN on a number of military health initiatives and is a leading expert for the profession. Additionally, AACN has supported JFWW by serving as one of the three continuing education providers for the five webinars, which will help to ensure maximum engagement by nursing professionals. 
  
The momentum for JFWW began after First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden established the Joining Forces initiative in 2011 to mobilize all sectors of society to focus on areas that support the employment, education, and wellness of our nation's service men and women while also raising awareness about their needs and sacrifices. Since 2012, AACN has been working with our nation's nursing schools to rally support for the Joining Forces initiative, educate nursing students, and grow the body of knowledge to ensure the best possible care for those in the military. Over 660 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have committed to championing this work.   
  
For more information from the White House on JFWW, click here. 
  
To learn more about the Joining Forces initiative, click here.