The NPs Role of Assessing and Intervening with Older Adult Drivers

Abstract

As the silver tsunami continues, assessing and intervening with older adult drivers are becoming an essential aspect of the comprehensive geriatric exam. The current lack of time efficient clinical guidelines is a concern and barrier for NPs. The purpose of this study was to identify strategies currently used by NPs. The critical incident technique was used to obtain data from a convenience sample of NPs. A total of 89 incidents were collected. The perspective of the NP can provide important information for developing clinical guidelines to promote individual and community safety.

Road safety of older drivers and the nursing profession: A scoping review

“…Nurses can play a key role in screening and assessing older drivers. In their clinical practice, nurses and nurse practitioners see older adults who are still driving at least once a week, or more (Arms, 2016). Findings in Johnson (1998)’s study revealed that 38% of the nurse participants assessed their older clients for factors related to driving abilities.…”

“…In the study by Arms (2016), NPs reported 6 major assessment categories and circumstances that trigger them to assess their older clients’ driving ability: (a) Assessing older drivers’ mental status, (b) identifying changes in physical status, (c) hearing concerns from family members, (d) evaluating medications, (e) retrieving driving information and (f) assessing drug and alcohol abuse. Some authors wrote articles related to this, to inform and raise nurses’ and NPs’ awareness about the age‐related physiological changes and health conditions affecting the driving performance of older adults (Brown, 2006; Johnson, 2003; Snyder, 2005; Towner & Yanochko‐Horsley, 2007; Wiese & Wolff, 2016).…”

“…58% of nurses in Johnson (1998)’s study said that they were concerned about their older client's driving safety. Results showed that they were using strategies to broach the topic of driving with their clients (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998). Some said that they were using therapeutic communication and an empathetic approach to initiate a nonthreatening conversation about safe driving with their older clients (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998).…”

“…Results showed that they were using strategies to broach the topic of driving with their clients (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998). Some said that they were using therapeutic communication and an empathetic approach to initiate a nonthreatening conversation about safe driving with their older clients (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998). Others expressed their concerns about the older adult's driving safety or presented objective examination data to support this discussion (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998).…”

“…Some said that they were using therapeutic communication and an empathetic approach to initiate a nonthreatening conversation about safe driving with their older clients (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998). Others expressed their concerns about the older adult's driving safety or presented objective examination data to support this discussion (Arms, 2016; Johnson, 1998). NPs reported that the most helpful intervention to manage the safety of older drivers was to involve family members (Arms, 2016).…”