Nurse practitioners' experiences of polypharmacy in community-dwelling older adults

Background: Numerous studies have defined polypharmacy and its impact on health. The literature is also rich in studies documenting the benefits of care provided by nurse practitioners (NPs). A gap in research exists at the intersection of the value of NPs in caring for older adults and their management of polypharmacy. Purpose: Coinciding with growth in America's older adult population and the need for adequate care, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of NPs caring for community-dwelling older adults experiencing polypharmacy. Methodological orientation: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed for themes. Sample: This study was conducted using a purposive sampling of NPs who care for older adults (n = 15). Conclusions: Four themes emerged: defining polypharmacy, communicating and collaborating, clinical judgement of NPs in relation to polypharmacy, and medication issues of older adults. The themes depict the complexity of medication management in older adults and the important role of NPs in providing care to older adults. Implications for practice: The significance of the study findings to future practice includes improving communication and collaboration between prescribing health care providers, better identification and management of polypharmacy, and improving the health care delivered to older adults. Safe and effective prescribing for older adults requires that NPs consider the unique needs of each older adult while using technology to support collaboration and decision making.