Tehran University of Medical Sciences Nursing Practice Today 2383-1154 2 2 2015 10 22 52 61 EN Arpi Manookian Department of Medical-Surgical, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nahid Dehghan Nayeri Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Reza Negarandeh Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahboobeh Shali Department of Medical-Surgical, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 22 2015 10 22 Background & Aim: This study aimed to discover the lived experiences of patients transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a general ward, to reach a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Methods & Materials: This is a qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological approach, which is conducted at hospitals affiliated to universities, and private hospitals of Tehran in 2013. Eighteen participants were purposefully selected for face-to-face and semi-structured interviews. Results: The findings revealed that the ICU patients experienced various feelings during the process of transition to a general ward. In this regard, three main themes were identified: “happiness of return” (consisted of three subthemes: “return to living,” “return to family,” and “return to a general ward”); “separation anxiety” (consisted of two subthemes: “anxiety of separation from the equipment” and “anxiety of separation from ICU staff”); and “spiritual development” (consisted of two subthemes: “being thankful to God” and “well-wishing toward others”). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that recognizing and focusing on each patient’s individual needs, emotions, and expectations is essential to provide more holistic and patient- centered care during the process of transition from ICU to a general ward. Accordingly, there is a potential need to develop structured and formal discharge planning in the clinical settings like Iran where this topic has not been touched yet. https://npt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/npt/article/view/49 https://npt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/npt/article/download/49/82