Care transition programs teach students about the process of transferring patients from one health environment to another, changing treatments, or discharging patients. The course covers other subjects such as health promotion, risk reduction, safety standards, and healthcare interventions.

Transferring medically complex patients between healthcare settings can have a significant impact on patient comfort or even health outcomes. Transition processes are especially at-risk for human error. Nurses must understand how to transfer important patient information including health records, medication information, and adverse reactions between settings.