Transitions Framework/ Transitions Theory

Contributor: Jacqueline Fawcett

September 2, 2018

Author – Afaf Ibrahim Meleis, RN, PhD, DrPS(hon), FAAN, LL (Living Legend)*

Year First Published – 1994

Major Concepts

TRANSITION

Anticipating
Experiencing
Completing

TRANSITION TYPE

Developmental transition
Situational transition
Wellness/illness transition
Organizational transition
Cultural transition
- Separation
- Liminality
- Iintegration

TRANSITION PATTERNS

Single transition
Multiple transitions
Sequential transitions
Simultaneous transitions
Related transitions
Unrelated transitions

TRANSITION PROPERTIES

Awareness
Engagement
Change and difference
Transition time span
Critical points and events

TRANSITION CONDITIONS

Personal Characteristics
- Perceptions of and meanings attached to health
- Cultural beliefs
- Socioeconomic status
- Preparation
- Knowledge
Environmental Characteristics
- Community resources
- Societal conditions

NURSING THERAPEUTICS

Assessment of readiness
Risk assessment
Transition preparation
Role supplementation
Creation of a healthy environment
Monitoring

RESPONSE PATTERNS

Process Indicators
- Feeling connected
- Interacting
- Location and being situated
- Developing confidence and coping
Outcome Indicators
- Mastery
- Fluid integrative identities
- Health outcomes
- Developmental outcomes
- Behavioral outcomes

Typology

A conceptual framework or a theoretical framework of nursing

Brief Description

The Transitions Framework/Transitions Theory focuses on “the human experiences, the responses, [and] the consequences of transitions on the well-being of people.”. . . The goal of Transitions Framework nursing is “to help people go through healthy transitions, [including] mastery of behaviors, sentiments, cues, and symbols associated with new roles and identities] and non-problematic processes, to enhance healthy outcomes” (Meleis, A. I. (2010). Transitions from practice to evidence-based models of care. In A. I. Meleis (Ed.), Transitions theory: Middle-range and situation-specific theories in nursing research and practice (p 5). New York, NY: Springer.)

Primary Sources

Meleis, A. I. (Ed.). (2010). Transitions theory: Middle-range and situation-specific theories in nursing research and practice. New York, NY: Springer.

Meleis, A. I. (2018). Theoretical nursing: Development and progress (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Meleis, A. I. (2015). Transitions theory. In M. C. Smith & M. E. Parker (Eds.). Nursing theories and nursing practice (4^th ed., pp. 361-380). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis

Meleis, A. I ., Sawyer, L. M., Im, E.-O., Messias, D. K. H., & Schumacher, K. (2000). Experiencing transitions: An emerging middle-range theory. Advances in Nursing Science, 23(1), 12-28.

Schumacher, K. L., & Meleis, A. I. (1994). Transitions: A central concept in nursing. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 26, 119-127.

Additional Sources

Blog: On My Mind and From My Heart .

Penn Nursing Webpage

Chick, N., & Meleis, A. I. (1986). Transitions: A nursing concern. In P. L. Chinn (Ed.), Nursing research methodology: Issues and implementation (pp. 237-257). Rockville, MD: Aspen.

Clayton State University School of Nursing. (2012). Philosophy. Retrieved from
http://www.clayton.edu/nursing/Philosophy
and http://www.clayton.edu/Portals/23/docs/bsnframework.pdf

Coffey, A. (2014). Transitions theory. In J. J. Fitzpatrick & G. McCarthy (Eds.). (2014). Theories guiding nursing research and practice: Making nursing knowledge explicit (pp. 51-68). New York, NY: Springer.

Im, E-O. (2010). Transition theory. In M. R. Alligood & A. M. Tomey (Eds.), Nursing theorists and their work (7th ed., pp. 416-433). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

Im, E.-O. (2018). Theory of transitions. In M. J. Smith & P. R. Liehr (Eds.), Middle-range theory for nursing (4th ed., pp. 265-287). New York, NY: Springer.

Im, E. (2009). Ethnic differences in symptoms experienced during the menopausal transition. Health Care for Women International, 30, 339-355.

Im, E-O., Lee, S. H., & Chee, W. (2010). Black women in menopausal transition. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing, 39, 435-443.

Im, E., Lee, S. H., & Chee, W. (2011). “Being conditioned, yet becoming strong”: Asian American Women in menopausal transition. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 22, 290-299.

Im, E., Liu, Y., Dormire, S., & Chee, W. (2008). Menopausal symptom experience: An online forum study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62, 541-550.

Situation-specific theories derived from the Transitions Framework/Transitions Theory

Theory of well-being of refugee women during cultural transition

Baird, M. B. (2012). Well-being in refugee women experiencing cultural transition. Advances in Nursing Science, 35,:249–263.

Theory of transition to adult day health services

Bull, M. J., & McShane, R. E. (2008). Seeking what’s best during the transition to adult day health services. Qualitative Health Research, 18, 597–605.

Theory of women farmworker migration transition

Clingerman E. A. (2007). Situation-specific theory of migration transition for migrant farmworker women. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice. 21, 220–235.

Theory of hope during transition for people with heart failure

Davidson, P. M., Dracup, K., Phillips, J., Padilla, G., & Daly, J. (2007). Maintaining hope in transition: A theoretical framework to guide interventions for people with heart failure. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 22(1), 58–64.

Theory of care transitions

Geary, C. R., & Schumacher, K. L. (2012). Care transitions: integrating transition theory and complexity science concepts. Advances in Nursing Science, 35, 236–248.

Theory of Korean immigrant women’s menopausal symptoms

Im, E. O., & Meleis, A. I. (1999). A situation specific theory of Korean immigrant women’s menopausal transition. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31, 333-338.

Theory of Asian-Americans’ cancer pain experience

Im, E. O. (2008). The situation specific theory of pain experience for Asian-American cancer patients. Advances in Nursing Science, 31, 319-331.

Theory of Caucasians’ cancer pain experience

Im, E. O. (2006). A situation-specific theory of Caucasian cancer patients’ pain experience. Advances in Nursing Science, 2, 232-244.

Theory of Asian immigrant women’s menopausal symptoms

Im, E. O. (2010). A situation-specific theory of Asian immigrant women’s menopausal symptom experience in the United States. Advances in Nursing Science, 33, 143-157.

Authors*

Afaf Ibrahim Meleis (1942 – )

Education
PhD in medical and social psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 1968)
MA in sociology, University of California, Los Angeles (1966)
MS in nursing, University of California, Los Angeles (1964)
BS in nursing, University of Alexandria, Egypt (1961)

Experience
Dr. Meleis has held faculty positions at the University of California, Los Angeles (1966-1971), the University of California, San Francisco (1971-2002), and the University of Pennsylvania (2002-present). She served as Dean, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, from 2002 to 2014.

(from Im, E-O. (2010). Transition theory. In M. R. Alligood & A. M. Tomey (Eds.), Nursing theorists and their work (7th ed., pp. 416-433). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.)