Introduction
Transitional care is an understudied topic that is significant for nursing practice. Many patients, especially those living with chronic illnesses, experience readmissions to hospitals after discharge. The problem has an adverse effect on individuals’ health outcomes and nurses’ performance. The purpose of the research is to analyze what interventions may improve individuals’ health outcomes and outline the methods caregivers may use to eliminate readmissions.
Problem Identification and Significance
Transitional care may play a significant role in patient health outcomes. According to Verhaegh et al. (2014), the objective of transitional care is to prevent individuals from being readmitted to the hospital and not allow a decrease in their well-being after the discharge. The possible interventions of nurses may include contacting or visiting patients and reviewing test results that were not available when the person was at the hospital. It is necessary to mention that transitional care interventions are vital for adults with chronic illnesses as they are more likely to have recurrent health problems shortly after leaving the hospital. That is why it is necessary to study the aspects of transitional care that ensure positive patient outcomes.
The significance of the problem to nursing is determined by the fact that chronically ill patients are a vulnerable group that needs attention. As caregivers are perceived as their advocates, it is necessary for them to provide continuous care and eliminate the possible health complications that may occur after the discharge from the hospital. The implementation of the transitional care model may decrease the number of readmissions, which is a significant determinant of nurses’ performance and patients’ satisfaction (Hirschman, Shaid, McCauley, Pauly, & Naylor, 2015). That is why it is crucial to study the impact of transitional nursing on the individual’s well-being and implement the findings into caregivers’ practice.
Research Purpose and Questions
The purpose of the research is to provide information about nurses’ transitional interventions that may lead to the improvement of individuals’ health outcomes, concentrating on chronically ill patients. The goal is to outline the techniques caregivers may use to eliminate the number of patients returning to the hospital, as well as the factors that may affect possible adverse consequences of early discharge. The research will suggest a strategy of transitional care based on its findings. The study is aimed to answer the following questions:
- What components of transitional care ensure lower readmission rates?
- What are the implications of transitional care for chronically ill patients?
Master’s Essentials
The Master’s Essential VIII is related to the topic of transitional care as it considers clinical prevention. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2011), one of the core competencies of healthcare professionals is to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent diseases from occurring. It means that the utilization of prevention methods is crucial for nurses and other medical workers. The programs in nursing that provide education on transitional care strategies contribute to the future excellent performance of students and their patient’s health outcomes.
Conclusion
The methods of transitional care can have a critical role in patients’ well-being. Chronically ill individuals may be perceived as a vulnerable group as they are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital after the discharge. It is crucial to study the implications of transitional care and its components to ensure that nurses provide high-quality care that improves individuals’ health and helps them to maintain their condition.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2011). The essentials of Master’s education in nursing. Web.
Hirschman, K., Shaid, E., McCauley, K., Pauly, M., & Naylor, M. (2015). Continuity of care: The transitional care model. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(3).
Verhaegh, K. J., MacNeil-Vroomen, J. L., Eslami, S., Geerlings, S. E., de Rooij, S. E., & Buurman, B. M. (2014). Transitional care interventions prevent hospital readmissions for adults with chronic illnesses. Health Affairs, 33(9), 1531-1539.