The September issue of AJN is now live. Here are some articles we’d like to bring to your attention.

CE: Original Research: The Experience of Transitioning to a Caregiving Role for a Family Member with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia

This qualitative study explores the experiences of people who transitioned to the role of caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Vivid interview excerpts illuminate the inner struggles caregivers may experience as they navigate a radically changed existence as well as the strategies that have helped them find their way.

CE: Can Your Older Patients Drive Safely?

Many older Americans depend on their cars for independence and connection to the outside world. What are the driving risks associated with advanced age? What behaviors and situations put older drivers at greatest risk, and what are the key indicators of an older patient’s ability to drive safely? Nurses are in a position to raise patients’ awareness of these risks and inform them about transportation alternatives.

Six Things You Can Do Today to Prevent Hospital-Onset C. Difficile Tomorrow

What changes can you make in your practice to prevent transmission of this common bacterial infection?

Lessons Learned from Litigation: Legal and Ethical Consequences of Social Media

AJN’s legal and ethics column coordinators analyze a case in which a Canadian nurse’s Facebook post about a family member’s poor medical care resulted in disciplinary action by the licensing board. What legal and ethical pitfalls should all nurses be aware of?

Palliative Care in the Acute Care Setting

This article in a series on palliative care developed in collaboration with the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association explains the role of the palliative care team in aiding discussions on goals of care.

There’s much more in our September issue, including an AJN Reports on the struggles faced by rural community hospitals; a Profile of Leslie Mancuso, president and chief executive officer of the international nonprofit Jhpiego; and a Teaching for Practice column on supporting adjunct clinical faculty. Click here to browse the table of contents and explore the issue on our website.

A note on the cover:

The elderly driver on this month’s cover is one of the more than 40 million licensed U.S. drivers ages 65 and older—a group that has increased by 50% since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.