Transforming loss: A developing concept for nursing

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of the concept transforming loss for its use in knowledge development and practice improvement.

A published 10-phase process guided development of this concept. The name and defining core qualities were constructed through a practice story and further understood through a review of the literature. A model was created to represent relationships between the core qualities, and a middle range theory lifted the concept up the ladder of abstraction. Gathering a story with parents experiencing a life changing event with their child led to the synthesis of a mini-saga to describe what is known about the concept. Finally, the development of a mini-synthesis brought the concept building process together to include a population, definition, and research direction.

Structured by the concept transforming loss, further research will include conceptual development through a rigorous review of the literature and empirical development by gathering stories of parents who have experienced a life-altering event of their child.