In the November 2010 issue of AJN, we published an editorial, “Families are Veterans, Too,” recognizing the stress and sacrifices of families of those who serve in the military. On this Veterans Day, we’re sharing an excerpt of that editorial below, and also offering free access to “Caring for Families with Deployment Stress,” the article mentioned in the editorial. This article was also published in the November 2010 issue and, unfortunately, is still very much pertinent, given that many families are still experiencing the stress of having a loved one deployed to a conflict zone. We honor and thank all those who have served.

As Erin Gabany and Teresa Shellenbarger explain in “Caring for Families with Deployment Stress,” that stress can be considerable. In families with children, deployment means that a two-parent household becomes in effect a single-parent one; when a single parent is deployed, grandparents, aunts, or uncles may find themselves filling that role. The deployment period may be especially difficult for families of soldiers in the National Guard or in reserve units—they’re less likely to be living on or near a military base or to have access to its resources and to other families going through the same experience. They’re also likely to have less income when the reservist’s civilian pay stops. Such stressors can play a role in a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral problems.

Nurses in all settings—not just those in clinics serving military families—may encounter these family members, and need to be aware of the issues they face and the resources available to them. Gabany and Shellenbarger provide a list of such resources.

…And let’s not forget the families of nurses who’ve been deployed… AJN spoke with army nurse Major Christopher A. Vanfosson’s wife, Kelly, about what life has been like for her and their four young children during Chris’s deployment [to Afghanistan]; you can find our podcasts page here at www.ajnonline.com.

Sharon Stanley, [a former] chief nurse and director of Disaster Health and Mental Health Services for the American Red Cross and an AJN editorial board member… says you never get used to deployment and feel concern “every day, every hour” for loved ones in war zones. She explains, “This chronically layered state of mind becomes a normal part of the activities of daily living—but has a tendency to lower normal tolerance,” adding that nurses need to be aware of this.

…Stanley says, “My marking of time is done by ‘next holiday’ dreaming. The next Thanksgiving we will . . .” Regardless of how you or I might feel about the conflicts the United States becomes involved in, we owe these families our compassion and support, as this month they’ll celebrate yet another holiday with an empty place at the table.