Background. Organizing and performing patient transfers in the continuum of care is part of the work of nurses and other\nstaff of a multiprofessional healthcare team. An understanding of discharge practices is needed in order to ultimate patients�\ntransfers from high technological intensive care units (ICU) to general wards. Aim. To describe, as experienced by intensive\ncare and general ward staff, what strategies could be used when organizing patient�s care before, during, and after transfer from\nintensive care. Method. Interviews of 15 participants were conducted, audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using\nqualitative content analysis. Results. The results showed that the categories secure, encourage, and collaborate are strategies used\nin the three phases of the ICU transitional care process. The main category; a safe, interactive rehabilitation process, illustrated\nhow all strategies were characterized by an intention to create and maintain safety during the process. A three-way interaction\nwas described: between staff and patient/families, between team members and involved units, and between patient/family and\nenvironment.Discussion/Conclusions.The findings highlight that ICUtransitional care implies critical care rehabilitation. Discharge\nprocedures need to be safe and structured and involve collaboration, encouraging support, optimal timing, earlymobilization, and\na multidiscipline approach.
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