Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess predictors and outcomes of patients’ perceptions of readiness for hospital discharge. Specifically the study investigated the impact of patient characteristics and nursing practices (education and care coordination) on perceived readiness for discharge and post-discharge outcomes (coping difficulty, utilization of services).

Sample: A convenience sample of 147 English speaking medical-surgical patients at least 18 years old anticipating discharge home were enrolled. 113 subjects completed the 3 week post-discharge telephone survey.

Methods: Meleis’ Transitions Theory provided the framework for this longitudinal correlational study. Data were collected prior to hospital discharge and at 3 weeks post-discharge using the following instruments: Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS), Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale, Post-Discharge Coping Difficulty Scale and measures of care coordination and utilization of post-discharge services

Results: A path analysis was conducted. Significant predictors of readiness for discharge accounting for 51% of the variance were: Living alone (r=-0.30), discharge education/content amount (r=-0.22), discharge teaching/skill of delivery (r=0.58) and care coordination (r=0.27). A negative correlation was found between RHDS and post-discharge coping difficulty scores (r=-0.27). Greater RHDS scores were associated with lower risk of readmission.

Conclusions & Implications: The skill of nurses in delivery of discharge teaching was the strongest predictor of readiness for discharge. Content overload in discharge education decreased RHDS scores. Patient education and care coordination are hospital-based care strategies that impact readiness for discharge and subsequent post-discharge outcomes.

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