Transition to Adulthood for Young People with Medical Complexity: An Integrative Literature Review

• Empirical literature on transition for medically complex young people is explored.
• A lack of support and difficulty accessing appropriate services was evident.
• Independence necessitated dependence on individuals, services and funding.
• Nurses can play a substantial role in transition preparation and support through capacity-building, education and program development.
• Future research should focus on psychosocial development, determinants of health, and formalized programs.

This article explores how the empirical literature on the transition to adulthood for young people with medical complexity can inform nursing and advanced practice nursing. An integrative literature review informed by Meleis’ Transition Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory of Human Development was conducted including 11 studies and yielded three themes: it’s like falling off a cliff, the paradox of independence, and it takes a village. The findings demonstrated a need for an increased focus on the process of transition and transfer for this complex population. Recommendations for pediatric nurses and advanced practice nurses based on these findings focus on advocacy, capacity-building, education, and program development and evaluation. Recommendations for future research are offered with a focus on determinants of health, psychosocial concerns, and program development and evaluation.