Discharge planning is a complex process. This transition of care is a critical component in assisting patients and their families to continue their recovery process from the hospital onwards. An effective discharge planning requires an interactive process among health care professionals, families and health care facilities. An appropriate discharge process has proven to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions, costs, and adverse events (Hasselink et al, 2014). Despite efforts to promote effective discharge planning, there has been a lack of integration and coordination in the discharge planning process, causing delayed transition of care. A delay in hospital discharge can cause additional hospital-related risks, incur additional costs and restrict the availability of beds for other
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Middle Range Nursing Theory: Transitions by Meleis An effective discharge process entails detailed planning from admission to discharge. Meleis’ middle-range theory of transition supported a holistic approach that described the transition experiences of patients as they undergo changes in their health and well-being (Shumacher & Meleis, 1994). The Transitions’ theory evolved over the decades which began with Meleis’ observations of human experiences as they deal with changes in their health, well-being and their self-care abilities (McEwen, 2014). She realized through her subsequent clinical observations that patients who were undergoing changes, such as becoming new parents, discharge from hospitals, recovering from surgery “all have similar experiences which required similar intervention” (University of Pennsylvania, n.d, p.4). Meleis’ Transitions theory provided a framework that guides nursing practice prior to, during and after the transition. Her theory consisted of four core concepts - nature of the transition, transition conditions, patterns of response and
Middle Range Nursing Theory: Transitions by Meleis An effective discharge process entails detailed planning from admission to discharge. Meleis’ middle-range theory of transition supported a holistic approach that described the transition experiences of patients as they undergo changes in their health and well-being (Shumacher & Meleis, 1994). The Transitions’ theory evolved over the decades which began with Meleis’ observations of human experiences as they deal with changes in their health, well-being and their self-care abilities (McEwen, 2014). She realized through her subsequent clinical observations that patients who were undergoing changes, such as becoming new parents, discharge from hospitals, recovering from surgery “all have similar experiences which required similar intervention” (University of Pennsylvania, n.d, p.4). Meleis’ Transitions theory provided a framework that guides nursing practice prior to, during and after the transition. Her theory consisted of four core concepts - nature of the transition, transition conditions, patterns of response and