Date of Completion
Fall 2026
Document Type
DNP Scholarly Project
Academic Department
School of Nursing
Degree Type
Doctoral
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
First Advisor
Corinne Cochran, RN, NNP, DNP
Second Advisor
Lydia Forsythe, PhD, MA, MSN, RN, CNOR
Third Advisor
Barbara K. Welch, DNP, MS, RN, EBP-C
Abstract
Problem: Women Veterans are one of the fastest-growing populations served by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), yet gaps persist in access to gender-responsive, trauma-informed care. Despite requirements established by the Deborah Sampson Act (DSA) of 2020, implementation remains inconsistent in Women's Health Primary Care Provider (WH-PCP) access, women's mental health (MH) services, military sexual trauma (MST) care, workforce capacity, care coordination, and accountability.
Aim of the Project: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, equity, and implementation fidelity of the DSA using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Policy Analytical Framework (POLARIS) and identify evidence-based recommendations to strengthen equitable, high-quality healthcare for women Veterans.
Review of the Evidence: Peer-reviewed literature, federal oversight reports, congressional documents, VHA reports and directives, and stakeholder perspectives were synthesized. Evidence was evaluated across workforce capacity, MST identification, women-centered trauma-informed care, Community Care, care coordination, accountability, and implementation fidelity.
Project Design: A retrospective policy analysis guided by CDC POLARIS compared DSA requirements with documented implementation and five related policies using effectiveness, feasibility, equity, cost/resource implications, and implementation fidelity.
Intervention: Rather than implementing a clinical intervention, the project used structured evidence review, stakeholder engagement, policy comparison, thematic synthesis, and validation to identify gaps between DSA requirements and implementation and develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
Significant Findings/Outcomes: The DSA has advanced women-centered and trauma-informed healthcare; however, workforce shortages, inconsistent implementation across VHA facilities, Veterans Benefits Administration–VHA interoperability gaps, variable Community Care quality, MST under identification, and inconsistent performance measurement continue to limit implementation fidelity.
Implications for Nursing: DNP-prepared nurses can advance health policy through evidence synthesis, systems leadership, advocacy, and translation of policy into practice. Strengthening workforce capacity, care coordination, accountability, education, and MST identification can improve implementation of existing DSA requirements and advance equitable, trauma-informed healthcare for women Veterans.
Recommended Citation
Shipp, Jessica N., "Analysis of the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020: Improving Women Veterans’ Care" (2026). All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 76.
https://fuse.franklin.edu/dnp-project/76
Rights
Copyright, all rights reserved
Included in
Health Policy Commons, Military and Veterans Studies Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Public Health and Community Nursing Commons, Public Policy Commons, Women's Health Commons
