The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify perspectives of female spouses/intimate partners regarding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning Iraq and Afghanistan combat Veterans. Through the use of a self-administered questionnaire based on Flanagan's critical incident technique, reports were obtained from a purposive sample of 34 spouses/intimate partners of Veterans recruited through a social group for military spouses and a university in southeastern North Carolina. Two-thirds of the participants reported not having received formal education about PTSD. The main perceived barriers to PTSD treatment seeking were denial of symptoms, fear, and stigma about disclosing PTSD symptoms. Spouses/intimate partners observed Veterans for changes in behavior and routines, disturbed sleep patterns, and nightmares. In the event of PTSD treatment resistance, spouses/intimate partners reported they would suggest the need for treatment, issue an ultimatum, take action, or offer patience and support without taking any action.

Background: Civilian nursing programs educate 100% of undergraduate military nursing students, yet many faculty are unaware of the challenges these students may encounter when they transition to the civilian classroom. The primary purpose of this integrative review was to ascertain the factors that challenge and/or facilitate a military student's transition to the civilian nursing classroom. A second purpose was to present recommendations so educators can become culturally competent to work with this unique student population. Method: Whittemore's and Knafl's five-step integrative review method (e.g., problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis, and presentation) was used to critically analyze and synthesize the literature regarding military students. Results: More than 70 articles were included in the final sample. They were framed by the interaction of the eight categories identified in Jeffreys' Nursing Universal Retention and Success model. Conclusion: Recommendations are offered based on the review of the literature. [ J Nurs Educ. 2019;58(7):392–400.]

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Multivariate regression methods were used to create two equations for calculation of the "iron index," a predictor of bone marrow iron scores. With the use of the most efficient cut-off point, approximately 90% of 210 patients could be diagnosed correctly. Selection of a criterion that minimizes false negatives (missed iron deficiency) would increase the number of unnecessary bone marrow aspirations, but, even then, more than a third of such tests could be avoided. Rapid turnaround time would be desirable for all measurements used to calculate the iron index, although it is recognized that for most hospitalized patients the length of hospital stay is determined by severity of an underlying disease, not the presence of anemia.