Article topics: Change in practice, Community, specialist practitioner, Transition, young people
Transition into adult services can be sudden and fragmented for young people with complex health needs. Yet, if the transition is a planned, coordinated process, the benefits can be life-long. Literature suggests that the quality of transition is variable and recommends community nurses take an active role within the process. To increase knowledge and awareness, a transition workshop was developed using the Queen’s Nursing Institute’s ‘Transition of Care’ tool, and delivered to the community specialist practitioner students at the University of Central Lancashire. The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness among the professional community groups in order to identify the challenges faced by young people, thus bringing together practitioners to promote collaborative working and leadership within this sphere of practice. Feedback following the workshop provided evidence of improved interprofessional working and a shift in perception, with historic ideologies being challenged. This article explores how implementing techniques to increase community nurses’ knowledge and awareness of transition improves the transition experience for the young person.