The 2015 American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria: Implications for Nurse Practitioners

• The American Geriatrics Society 2015 Beers Criteria lists potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for older adults that may result in adverse drug reactions.
• The recommendations are graded and evidenced-based and include medications to be avoided in general, medications to be avoided in certain diseases, drug-drug interactions, and possible alternatives to medications associated with potentially inappropriate medications.
• All prescribers, including nurse practitioners, should use the lists as guides in all care settings with the exception of hospice and palliative care.

The 2015 American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria (the 5th version) of potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults is scientifically rigorous and provides a modified Delphi method to systematically review and grade the evidence. All care settings are taken into consideration with the exception of hospice and palliative care. Nurse practitioners must be aware of this resource as a guide and reference in prescribing medications as primary care providers for the ever-growing over 65 population to identify and intervene in adverse drug reactions.