Nursing Initiatives and Future Directions for Transition Practice and Research

Abstract

Over the last decade, in particular, there has been a significant focus on how adolescents with long-term conditions can be prepared for the transition to adult services. There has been a commensurate increase in innovative nurse-led interventions for healthcare transition which is to be welcomed. Throughout this book, a range of innovative nurse-led interventions for transition have been presented. In this chapter, we summarise the concepts and outcomes that are important for adolescents in healthcare transition. Nurses can support adolescents’ empowerment by establishing a trusting relationship, valuing the adolescent’s perspective, creating positive environment and avoiding judgement. We learn how empowerment is associated with improved quality of life, well-being and clinical outcomes; and transition programmes need to be responsive, respectful, accessible, comprehensive, integrated and coordinated. The discussions of the varied transition interventions and nursing initiatives in this book illustrate and show that nurses play an essential role in the transition process in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary team. In these transition programmes, nurses hold pivotal roles as team leaders, designers and implementers of transition interventions, and as communicators between paediatric and adult services. Further research is needed to determine the key elements of transition programmes that lead to better outcomes as this knowledge will contribute to the design of efficient transition models of care in the future. Evaluation of nurse-led transition interventions remains relatively new, which raises questions about what is most appropriate, the associated challenges and potential solutions. The chapter concludes with recommendations and consideration of future directions for evidence-based transition practice, education and research.