All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

U.S. veteran, AB nursing professor published in international journals

Alderson Broaddus University Professor of Nursing Dr. Gina Maiocco, APRN, CNS-BC, served as lead researcher on a recent internationally published article in the Journal of Clinical Nursing titled “Care of veterans in a non-veteran health administration hospital: What is the status of nursing practice after continuing education?”

Dr. Maiocco has a track record of funded research on the care of veterans in non-VHA health care facilities.

The purpose of the research for this article was to identify how civilian nurses care for military veterans and to describe challenges nurses face in the provision of that care. The article summarizes the uncertainty nurses face in delivering care to veterans and documents current practices, to include frequency of documentation of veteran status in the electronic medical record system.

As a veteran herself, Dr. Maiocco understands the unique health care issues veterans face on a day-to-day basis, and her research serves as a “bridge” between veterans and nurses in civilian hospitals.

“Being an officer in the U.S. Air Force, I have a direct connection to fellow veterans who become hospital patients,” said Maiocco. “We are a family, and I understand how to treat a veteran simply because I lived that life. Veterans take care of veterans.”

“Many nurses are unsure of the methods they should use to treat veterans properly. The point of this research was to see what we can do to improve the overall care of our veteran patients, and the knowledge and safety of our nurses,” said Maiocco.

She explains that by documenting a patient’s service history, relevant patient outcomes are monitored so that educational programs, clinical processes, and work safety initiatives can be considered and implemented to support both the veteran and the caring nurse.

To further assist nurses in non-VA facilities, Dr. Maiocco founded and continues to volunteer for the Veteran-to-Veteran program. It is a program that supports veterans and their families during admission to a civilian hospital and helps to educate nurses on veterans’ physical and mental health needs.

“My passion is helping others, and helping fellow veterans is close to my heart,” says Maiocco. “Their care is so specific, and if we can help tend to the needs of veterans of all ages as well as keep our nurses safe, then we are taking a step in the right direction.”

Maiocco’s Veteran-to-Veteran program is gaining national attention. Since publishing an additional article about the program in The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, other hospitals across the country have expressed interest in starting a Veteran-to-Veteran program as well.

Dr. Maiocco is a Weston, W.Va. native and a 1981 graduate of Alderson Broaddus University, where she received her bachelor’s in nursing. During military service in the U.S. Air Force, she earned a master’s degree in critical care/trauma at the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Utah. While in the Air Force, Dr. Maiocco performed many duties to include flight nurse, hyperbaric nursing, flight clinical coordinator, critical care clinical nurse specialist and chief of emergency services. In West Virginia, Dr. Maiocco holds an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensure as a clinical nurse specialist, only one of 26 in the state.

For more information about the Veteran-to-Veteran Program, or assistance with veteran care, contact Dr. Gina Maiocco at: maioccogm@ab.edu

Share this story:

RECENT Stories

French Creek man accused of buying game consoles, electronics with another person’s bank info

A French Creek man was arrested and charged with two counts of fraudulent use of an access device after allegedly using another man’s bank information to buy electronics from Walmart through its app.

Upshur County Commission honors 911 telecommunicators with official proclamation

The Upshur County Commission officially declared April 13-19, 2025, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to recognize and honor the essential role 911 telecommunicators play in ensuring community safety.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

This week’s Upshur County sports calendar features a packed schedule of baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, and track and field events for area schools and colleges from Monday, April 28 through Sunday, May 4.
WVWC Track - Wesleyan Sports

Wesleyan softball settles for a split with Concord in MEC doubleheader

West Virginia Wesleyan softball shut out Concord 2-0 in the opener but fell 11-7 in Game Two as both teams earned a win in Friday’s rain-affected doubleheader.

Maxine Virginia Malcolm

Maxine Virginia Malcolm, 96, formerly of French Creek, WV, and a retired Abbott Laboratories employee known for her faith and love of family, died April 23, 2025, leaving behind children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Strawberry Festival Parade

West Virginia Strawberry Festival parade routes and parking restrictions announced

The West Virginia Strawberry Festival and City of Buckhannon have announced the parade routes, schedules and parking restrictions from May 10-18 to ensure safety and smooth operations during the 83rd annual celebration in Buckhannon.

Coordinator hired to support WVWC’s Certificate in Addiction Counseling program

West Virginia Wesleyan College has appointed addiction specialist Jon Dower as coordinator for its new Certificate in Addiction Counseling program, aiming to enhance behavioral health education and address statewide substance use challenges.

Wesleyan launches Certificate in Addiction Counseling program to combat substance use disorders in Appalachia

West Virginia Wesleyan College is launching a fully online, post-master’s Certificate in Addiction Counseling this fall to help address substance use disorders in West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region.

City of Buckhannon announces yard waste collection schedule and rescheduling update

Buckhannon residents can receive yard waste collection on designated Fridays and drop off limited loads at the Recycling Center for free, with the May 16 collection now rescheduled to May 23 because of the Strawberry Festival.

Donald Lee Simons

Donald Lee Simons, 77, a Buckhannon construction worker and former country club caddy known for his love of fishing, died at home on April 23, 2025, survived by family and friends.

Turn the page on a long winter: Little Free Libraries are the perfect Spring activity

Little Free Libraries in Upshur County offer free books at numerous locations, fostering community connections and literacy for all ages while encouraging residents to donate, borrow, and share a wide variety of reading materials.

The Colonial Arts Center & CAC Gallery Present: 2025 Vandalia Arts Journal Exhibition

The CAC Gallery will host the inaugural exhibition of The Vandalia Arts Journal from April 25 to May 10, featuring WV Wesleyan College students’ literary and visual works.