Transition planning in early intervention: nurse practitioner implications

The effective transition of young children with disabilities from early intervention services that they receive before age 3 years to services that they will receive as preschoolers is an important priority. Mandates in federal law have created new responsibilities for professionals who provide these early childhood services. As part of a multidisciplinary team, pediatric nurse practitioners can play a key role in facilitating these transitions. This article describes the PRIME Transition Model, a comprehensive, research-based model that outlines these responsibilities and presents guidelines, transition checklists, timelines, and medical and legal information.