The nurses who care for veterans at the VA are dedicated. They are also exhausted. And until Congress acts, that’s unlikely to change
Robert Thomas Jr., national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), recently warned Congress that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faces a persistent nursing shortage. His message was simple: When there are not enough nurses, quality of care suffers. Lawmakers cannot afford to wait while veterans go without the care they need.
This is not a new problem. PVA and other advocates have raised concerns about VA staffing for years. As Thomas put it bluntly, “The nursing shortage cuts down on quality.” Following his testimony, PVA leaders met privately with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to stress the real-world consequences of these shortages for veterans who depend on the VA.
I have written about this issue before in PN magazine, including the idea of reviving the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, a World War II–era program that successfully expanded the nation’s nursing workforce during a crisis. That we are still facing shortages today underscores how persistent and difficult this problem has been to solve.
The challenge extends beyond the VA. The United States has experienced cyclical nursing shortages for decades. An aging population requires more care, while many experienced nurses near retirement. At the same time, nursing schools face limits on faculty and clinical placements, constraining the flow of new nurses.
The VA also faces structural hurdles. Federal hiring is notoriously slow. Applicants undergo credential verification, background checks and multiple layers of review. It’s a process that can take months. By contrast, private hospitals often hire within weeks. In a competitive labor market, many qualified candidates accept other offers long before the VA finishes its hiring process.
As a veteran who receives care through the VA, I see the human impact firsthand. The nurses who care for me are dedicated and professional, but they are stretched thin. When nurses cover too many patients or work extended shifts, that fatigue is obvious. Nursing demands focus, precision and emotional resilience. When staffing falls short, burnout rises, and mistakes become more likely.
Congress and VA leadership must recognize that this is not just a workforce statistic — it’s a patient care issue. Veterans rely on the VA for complex, long-term care. That system cannot function properly without a strong, stable nursing workforce.
America promised to care for its veterans. Keeping that promise requires more than words. It requires ensuring the VA has the nurses it needs to deliver the quality care veterans have earned. Until staffing is addressed, that promise remains incomplete.
As always, I welcome your thoughts at al@pvamag.com.