NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 1 Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations

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Capella university

NURS-FPX 6026 Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 2

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Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a significant mental health issue among veterans, affecting their well-being, relationships, and ability to reintegrate into civilian life. Despite advancements in treatment, many veterans face barriers to accessing care, including stigma, limited resources, and inconsistent healthcare policies. This position paper examines the impact of PTSD on veterans’ health outcomes and explores the role of the interprofessional team in improving care. It also evaluates supporting and opposing perspectives on current PTSD treatment strategies to identify the most effective approaches for enhancing veterans’ quality of life and long-term mental health recovery.

Position Related to PTSD in Veteran Population and Assumptions 

Traumatic experiences and combat life-threatening situations during service is a critical mental health issue that affects veterans with PTSD. The disease is occurring in 7% of Veterans and 6% of the general population. Rates (13%) are higher for female Veterans than male Veterans (6%). Additionally, the report indicates that in fiscal year 2024, there were about 14% of male Veterans and 24% of female Veterans diagnosed with PTSD out of the 5.8 million Veterans served (National Center for PTSD, 2025). This population is particularly vulnerable to such emotional distress, substance abuse, homelessness, and increased suicide risk. Veterans are a key group in this discussion because they have unique healthcare needs that require specialized interventions, yet they often face barriers to accessing adequate mental health care.  

Many veterans with PTSD are currently dealing with fragmented care, long wait times for mental health services, and the stigma of seeking treatment (Ein et al., 2024). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers treatment options, including psychotherapy, medicines, and peer support programs. Unfortunately, there are still gaps in accessibility, continuity of care, and culturally competent approaches. These challenges are especially acute for minority and rural veterans due to the health inequities that further exacerbate access to timely and effective PTSD care (Ein et al., 2024).

Our team takes the stance that veterans’ mental health services should be given increased access to evidence-based treatments, telehealth services, and a better network of community-based supports. It is also important to address systemic barriers to improving PTSD outcomes, such as stigma and long wait times. This is essential because unaddressed PTSD is bad for veterans’ health, and it has long-term social and economic consequences, including increased healthcare costs and loss of productivity.

Assumptions of the Plan 

This plan assumes that increasing veterans’ access to evidence-based PTSD treatments will have positive effects on their mental health outcomes. In addition, it also takes for granted that reducing stigma and increasing access to telehealth services will enhance treatment engagement, which will increase minority veterans’ care accessibility (Fortier et al., 2021). It finally assumes that interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers, policymakers, and veteran organizations is essential for systemic changes. 

Interdisciplinary Team Approach and Potential Challenges

Addressing PTSD in veterans necessitates a collaborative interdisciplinary approach involving not only mental health professionals but also primary care providers, social workers, technology specialists, and community organizations. It is important to have the support of psychiatrists and psychologists in evidence-based treatments, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. Social workers and case managers help veterans locate housing, employment support, and financial support and also help identify PTSD symptoms early, as well as coordinate care with primary care providers.

Telehealth specialists enhance accessibility by expanding virtual mental health services, particularly for rural and underserved veterans. In addition, community-based organizations such as veteran support groups and peer mentors give critical social support, decreasing isolation and stigma (Gorman et al., 2022).An interdisciplinary approach to PTSD enhances care coordination. It facilitates developing and implementing care plans that include prevention, early intervention, long-term management, and medical and psychological treatments (Mann & Marwaha, 2024).

By combining expertise across disciplines, veterans receive comprehensive, coordinated care that improves long-term outcomes. In addition, this approach allows culturally competent care to be provided to diverse veteran populations, including women and minority veterans. Nevertheless, there are communication barriers, professional perspectives, and systemic limitations, including Veteran bureaucracy and funding constraints (Ein et al., 2024). Other barriers to telehealth adoption may include resistance in a military culture and stigma. Overcoming these challenges requires strong leadership, standardized care coordination strategies, and continued investment in interdisciplinary training and technology. A well-integrated team will help veterans with PTSD receive the support they need to recover and improve their overall quality of life.

Evaluating Supporting Evidence and Knowledge Gaps 

Numerous studies and position papers advocate for expanding mental health services for Veterans. Veterans face barriers such as limited access to mental health services, long wait times, stigma, and fragmented care. Thus, it is essential to improve mental health outcomes, reduce disparities, and ensure timely, comprehensive, and accessible care for all veterans (Snair et al., 2023). Many studies support evidence-based treatments, telehealth services, and community-based support networks to improve PTSD care for veterans.

According to research, Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is an effective treatment for PTSD in Veterans. A study showed significant PTSD symptom reduction in PE groups (National Center for PTSD, 2024). Another trial comparing PE and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) found PE slightly more effective. However, the difference was not clinically significant, showing that both evidence-based treatments are well-supported for PTSD in Veterans, demonstrating consistent symptom reduction across multiple studies (Schnurr et al., 2022).

Similarly, research highlights the effectiveness of telehealth services in increasing treatment accessibility, especially for rural and underserved veterans. Fortier et al. (2021) claim that group telemental health is safe, feasible, and well-received by U.S. Veterans. Strong group cohesion and peer support are achievable through telehealth, making it a convenient, efficient, and cost-effective option, especially for those with high psychiatric needs. Another study supports telehealth as effective for managing rural Veterans’ medical conditions, including diabetes and cancer.

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 1 Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations

According to the survey, telehealth saved $65.29–$72.94 and 2.10–2.60 hours per visit (Quayson et al., 2024), suggesting that it can reduce barriers related to costs and long wait times, reinforcing its role as a necessary expansion in PTSD care. Position papers from organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) emphasize the need for a strong network of community-based support to complement clinical treatment. Studies show that community-based veteran peer programs can help prevent mental health complications by complementing clinical efforts. With proper support, these initiatives show promise as a public health strategy (Beehler et al., 2021). These findings align with the position that a more comprehensive support system is essential for improving PTSD outcomes.

However, gaps remain in understanding the long-term effectiveness of these interventions for PTSD, as well as how to integrate community resources with Veterans services best. Some implementation barriers include funding and policy constraints on large-scale telehealth expansions and interdisciplinary care models. Additionally, stigma remains a significant challenge, particularly for older veterans and those from cultures that discouragemental health treatment (Ein et al., 2024). Further research is needed to determine the most effective strategies for overcoming these barriers. By addressing these knowledge gaps and barriers and advocating for policy changes, healthcare teams can work toward a more comprehensive and equitable PTSD care system for veterans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PTSD is a significant challenge to Veterans and requires a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to improve health outcomes. This expanding access to evidence-based treatment, telehealth services to management, and community-based support networks, including tackling barriers such as stigma, waiting times, and inequity in health care, is crucial. These interventions have been supported by research; however, there are knowledge gaps in long-lasting telehealth efficacy, peer support integration, and interdisciplinary care model cost-effectiveness. These challenges can be overcome based on policy reforms, raising funding, and conducting more research. By coordinating efforts between healthcare providers, policymakers, and veteran organizations, veteran PTSD care will be timely, effective, and available. 

References

Beehler, S., LoFaro, C., Kreisel, C., Dorsey Holliman, B., & Mohatt, N. V. (2021). Veteran peer suicide prevention: A community‐based peer prevention model. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 51(2), 358–367. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12712 

Ein, N., Gervasio, J., St Cyr, K., Liu, J. J. W., Baker, C., Nazarov, A., & Richardson, J. D. (2024). A rapid review of the barriers and facilitators of mental health service access among Veterans and their families. Frontiers in Health Services, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/frhs.2024.1426202

Fortier, C. B., Currao, A., Kenna, A., Kim, S., Beck, B. M., Katz, D., Hursh, C., & Fonda, J. R. (2021). Online telehealth delivery of group mental health treatment is safe, feasible, and increases enrollment and attendance in post-9/11 U.S. veterans. Behavior Therapy, 53(3), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2021.11.004

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 1 Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations

Gorman, J. A., Chamberlin, E. S., Stevenson, B. J., Calixte, R., Crossman, D. M., Ahern, M. E., Mack, J., Russo, A., & Federman, E. J. (2022). Using veterans socials to build a community: Feasibility of the VOICES intervention. Community Mental Health Journal, 58(8), 1544–1553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-00969-z

Mann, S. K., & Marwaha, R. (2024). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559129/ 

National Center for PTSD. (2025, January 10). How common is PTSD in veterans? Ptsd.va.gov. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp

National Center for PTSD. (2024, April 29). Prolonged exposure for PTSD. Ptsd.va.gov. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/prolonged_exposure_pro.asp

Quayson, B. P., Hough, J., Boateng, R., Boateng, I. D., Godavarthy, R., & Mattson, J. (2024). Telehealth for rural veterans in the United States: A systematic review of utilization, cost savings, and impact of COVID-19. Societies, 14(12), 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14120264 

Schnurr, P. P., Chard, K. M., Ruzek, J. I., Chow, B. K., Resick, P. A., Foa, E. B., Marx, B. P., Friedman, M. J., Bovin, M. J., Caudle, K. L., Castillo, D., Curry, K. T., Hollifield, M., Huang, G. D., Chee, C. L., Astin, M. C., Dickstein, B., Renner, K., Clancy, C. P., & Collie, C. (2022). Comparison of prolonged exposure vs cognitive processing therapy for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder among US Veterans. JAMA Network Open, 5(1), e2136921. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36921 

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 1 Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations

Snair, M., Formentos, A., & Meisnere, M. (2023). Improving and sustaining access to mental health services. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK596352/