Understanding the Diffusion of Theoretical Knowledge in Nursing: A Citation Analysis of Meleis’s Transition Theory

Meleis’s Transition Theory in Gerontogeriatric Nursing and the Future Need for Specialized Care

“…Meleis's transition theory has primarily been employed in the dynamic healthcare field to navigate the intricate terrains of health-illness transitions [19]. This usage spans various healthcare niches, from maternity care to chronic illness management and end-oflife care [19].…”

“…Meleis's transition theory has primarily been employed in the dynamic healthcare field to navigate the intricate terrains of health-illness transitions [19]. This usage spans various healthcare niches, from maternity care to chronic illness management and end-oflife care [19]. Within these contexts, the theory serves as a navigational compass, guiding healthcare professionals through the complexities of types of transitions, conditions affecting those transitions, and patterns of response [19].…”

“…This usage spans various healthcare niches, from maternity care to chronic illness management and end-oflife care [19]. Within these contexts, the theory serves as a navigational compass, guiding healthcare professionals through the complexities of types of transitions, conditions affecting those transitions, and patterns of response [19]. Yet, its potential extends far beyond these well-trodden paths, particularly into the underexplored territory of developmental transitions in gerontogeriatric nursing [20].…”

“…This fragmentation belies the interconnected and unique aspects of each individual's ageing experience, creating significant gaps in research and care practices [25]. Although critical, the emphasis on health-illness transitions leaves the comprehensive understanding of developmental transitions in ageing largely untouched [19]. This overview on the ageing process often entails changes in experiential circumstances, leading to authentic situational and sometimes organizational transitions, which should be considered in conjunction and articulation with developmental transitions and changes in health-disease status.…”

“…This unaddressed gap underlines the need for a specialized nursing field that adopts a unitary approach to focus on the developmental transitions intrinsic to the ageing process [19]. Meleis's transition theory, with its nuanced framework and inherent flexibility, emerges as a promising foundation for this specialization [20].…”