Skip to main content

Military Health System

Please Clear Your Cache!

Please note that Health.mil has experienced recent updates. For the best user experience, please clear your cache, or your browsing history. This will ensure download buttons and other custom features are working correctly.

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.

You also may be interested in...

Article
May 10, 2021

Eielson nurse says technology, readiness integral to military nursing

Military health personnel checking the ears of a patient

Air Force 1st Lt. Katelyn Schoneweis, a clinical nurse at Eielson Medical Clinic at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, said technology like MHS GENESIS, working with the Army and her commander’s increased focus on readiness have already benefitted her early in her career.

Video
May 6, 2021

BAMC Nurses Week 2021

Black and white image of two nurses wearing PPE in a hospital setting

Nurses play an extremely important role in saving lives and caring for our Service members and their families around the world. In honor of these incredible professionals, each year the nation celebrates National Nurses Week between 6 May, National Nurses Day, and 12 May, the birthdate of celebrated nurse Florence Nightingale. We are grateful for our ...

Last Updated: July 11, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery