Abstract
Background: When depressive people are discharged from hospital they are in a vulnerable situation where they may struggle finding personal meaning which is crucial for a healthy transition and personal recovery. A better understanding of the depressive persons' personal experience of this transition is needed in order to design better nursing care.
Aim: To gain a deeper understanding of depressive people's experience of the transition from hospital in-patient care to home based care. Methods: This interpretative study utilised Meleis' theory about health care transitions and used Ricoeur's hermeneutics. Six participants were interviewed in depth using a semi-structured interview guide.
Findings: Based on a theory-guided analysis two central themes were identified: the experience and need of support and reformulation of identity. The patients needed support from professionals, especially support from the hospital nurses and the community mental health nurses, in order to undergo a healthy transition. Furthermore, this experience of support facilitated a reformulation of personal identity in a positive way.
Conclusion: The hospital nurses and the community psychiatric nurses have a central role in supporting healthy transitions. A healthy transition appeared to support recovery. The most critical point of the transition was at the discharge and first period at home.