Experiencing transitions: An emerging middle-range theory

Changes in health and illness of individual create a process of transition, and clients in transition tend to be more vulnerable to risks that may in turn affect their health. Uncovering these risks may be enhanced by underst anding the transition process. As it central concept of nursing, transition has been analyzed, its components identified and a framework to articulate and to reflect the relationship between these components has been defined. Ln this article, the previous conceptual analysis of transitions is extend ed and refined by drawing on the results of five different research studies that have examined transitions using an integrative approach to theory dev elopment. The emerging middle-range theory of transitions consists of types and patterns of transitions, properties of transition experiences, facilit ating and inhibiting conditions, process indicators, outcome indicators, an d nursing therapeutics. The diversity, complexity, and multiple dimensional ity of transition experiences need to be further explored and incorporated in future research and nursing practice related to transitions.