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Nursing in the Military Health System

Nurses across the Military Health System are making a difference. They serve in leading roles to maintain military health and readiness and help make transformative changes in military medicine.

Nurses Week Spotlight image


Nurses of all backgrounds, ranks, and roles are an essential part of the MHS mission. Our nursing team includes:

  • Active duty service members.
  • Guard and Reserve members.
  • Civilians.
  • Contractors.

Our nurses provide services beyond their roles in military hospital and clinics. These roles include:

  • Serving in research labs and classrooms.
  • Working in classrooms as teachers and mentors.
  • Evaluating informatics to improve patient care systems.

DHA’s nursing leaders are optimizing the system of care and the patient experience. This is done by integrating and standardizing nursing practices across the continuum of care.

Meet DHA's Chief Nursing Officer

BG Katherine A. SimonsonBrig. Gen. Katherine A. Simonson is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Canisius College, Buffalo, New York. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Masters of Nursing from the University of Washington, Seattle. She was commissioned into the Regular Army in 1990.

Read her Full Bio

DHA Nursing Key Areas of Interest

  • Research and Innovation: Our nursing-focused research results in new, evidence-based, professional practices.
  • Policies and Practice: We base our nursing policies and practices on validated evidence. This evidence is consistent with national standards.
  • Education and Training: By working with our MHS partners, we’re providing and enhancing educational opportunities across the MHS. Our leaders are prioritizing our nurse’s professional growth and development.
  • Readiness: We’re providing operational readiness platforms to make sure our nurses have the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need wherever and whenever they are called upon to serve. And we’re establishing partnerships to enhance the readiness of the total nursing force.

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Article Around MHS
May 12, 2023

Military Nurses Provide Professional Insight to Students

Nursing professionals from the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, and the 30th Medical Brigade recently joined forces to participate in a Health and Human Service Academy Career Fair at Ramstein High School, aiming to educate students about the rewarding career of nursing and the diverse opportunities it presents.  (Photo By John Ciccarelli)

Nurses from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (86th AES), 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, and the 30th Medical Brigade (30th MED BDE) participated in a Health and Human Service Academy Career Fair at Ramstein High School to educate students about nursing and the career opportunities it offers, May 4.

Article Around MHS
May 12, 2023

National Nurses Week - Cmdr. Mojica Feature Story

Cmdr. Mojica poses with an Indonesian teacher and school children during a visit to SD 83 Elementary as a part of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18), Apr. 5, 2018. PP18’s mission is to work collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships across the Indo-Pacific Region. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)

The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) kicks off National Nurses Week, by honoring all nurses who have served or are currently serving across the DOD. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday.

Article Around MHS
May 10, 2023

Recognizing Excellence: Four Walter Reed Nurses Honored with DAISY Award

U.S. Navy Capt. Jessica Beard, chief nursing officer presents (L-R) U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Rose Flanagan, U.S. Navy Ensign Angela Spath, and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Amber Huddleston the DAISY Award during Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Director's Town Hall. (Photo: Harvey Duze)

The Walter Reed national Military Medical Center honored four of its own with the prestigious DAISY Award during the Director's Town Hall. The Daisy Award is a national recognition program that celebrates the extraordinary work of nurses, physicians, and health care staff members.

Article Around MHS
May 10, 2023

Advances in Prostheses Focus of Medical Museum’s Science Cafe

Jamie Boehm, a certified orthotist prosthetist at Walter Reed, shows a current-day prosthetic during the Science Café's program focused on the Department of Defense (DOD) Limb Trauma Care at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. (Photo: Bernard Little)

Staff from Walter Reed who care for patients with polytrauma injuries and limb loss participated in the Science Café hosted by the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, Maryland on April 27.

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May 9, 2023

Tidewater Market Celebrates Nurses Week

Tidewater Market Celebrates Nurses Week

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (May 9, 2023) Rear Adm. Matthew Case, director of the Defense Health Agency Tidewater Market and commander of Navy Medical Forces Atlantic, meets with chief nurses from DHA Tidewater Market military treatment facilities as part of National Nurses Week 2023. During the meeting, Case thanked the nurses for their role in helping provide ...

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May 9, 2023

Tidewater Market Celebrates Nurses Week

Tidewater Market Celebrates Nurses Week

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (May 9, 2023) Rear Adm. Matthew Case, director of the Defense Health Agency Tidewater Market and commander of Navy Medical Forces Atlantic, meets with chief nurses from DHA Tidewater Market military treatment facilities as part of National Nurses Week 2023. During the meeting, Case thanked the nurses for their role in helping provide ...

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May 8, 2023

DHA National Nurses Week 2023 – Nurses Make A Difference compilation video

DHA National Nurses Week 2023 – Nurses Make A Difference compilation video

Compilation video highlights nurses and nursing teams from across the Defense Health Agency commenting on how “nurses make a difference, anytime, anywhere—always.” DHA will celebrate nurses and the integrated health care team National Nurses Week May 6-12, 2023. National Nurses Week recognizes how nurses – whether in uniform, civilians or contractors ...

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Apr 18, 2023

Nurses Week 2023: Nurses are on the front lines

DHA Seal

Short video features a nurse or nurses from across the Defense Health Agency representing their military hospital or clinic, responding to the prompt of what nursing means to them. This video is shared to make ready-made content available as part of the celebration of National Nurses Week 2023. During National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and throughout the ...

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Apr 18, 2023

Nurses Week 2023: Nursing is more than a job

Nurses Week 2023: Nursing is more than a job

Short video features a nurse or nurses from across the Defense Health Agency representing their military hospital or clinic, responding to the prompt of what nursing means to them. This video is shared to make ready-made content available as part of the celebration of National Nurses Week 2023. During National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and throughout the ...

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Apr 18, 2023

Nurses Week 2023: Nursing means supporting our service members

Nurses Week 2023: Nursing means supporting our service members

Short video features a nurse or nurses from across the Defense Health Agency representing their military hospital or clinic, responding to the prompt of what nursing means to them. This video is shared to make ready-made content available as part of the celebration of National Nurses Week 2023. During National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and throughout the ...

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Apr 18, 2023

Nurses Week 2023: Nursing takes heart

MHS nurse talking about care in her profession.

Short video features a nurse or nurses from across the Defense Health Agency representing their military hospital or clinic, responding to the prompt of what nursing means to them. This video is shared to make ready-made content available as part of the celebration of National Nurses Week 2023. During National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and throughout the ...

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Apr 18, 2023

Nurses Week 2023: Nurses are ready anytime, anywhere, always

MHS nurse in uniform explains nurses are ready anytime, anywhere, always.

Short video features a nurse or nurses from across the Defense Health Agency representing their military hospital or clinic, responding to the prompt of what nursing means to them. This video is shared to make ready-made content available as part of the celebration of National Nurses Week 2023. During National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and throughout the ...

Last Updated: July 11, 2023
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