A model of transitional care for critically ill survivors. A theory and application.

Transitional Care is defined as the care given to patients who experience transitions while in critical care units, as well as after discharge from those units. Transitional Care must be provided to overcome the sequelae of illness often experienced by post-ICU patients and thus avoid mortality or further morbidity. Patients need to be prepared for transition to avoid discontinuity of care. Health professionals, especially nurses, need to understand the concept of transition, provide care, and take up their role as ‘boundary riders’ to help promote the patient’s smooth transition. However, the literature has not shown any evidence of nurses’ understanding of patients’ transition experience or care practice to affect a good transition. This gap in the literature led to the conduct of research study where nurses’ understanding of the critically ill patients’ transition and the model of Transitional Care in this book was part of the study findings.