Aims and objectives: This paper presents a critical review of published literature detailing the significance of transitional care in ICU. Background: Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) often experience multiple transitions as they move through different levels of care. The transition process from Intensive Care Units, ICU, to the general ward involves the patient, their relatives, and the staff. The transfer of patients from the ICU is an everyday procedure. It is an accepted part of the ICU nurse’s routine work, but also an important element of providing quality care. Design: This literature review study addresses the aims and objectives. Methods: Following a literature search of electronic databases, 30 articles were retrieved that met the selection riteria with papers discussed in relation to transition and significance of transitional care in ICU patients. Results: The physical and psychological effects of the ICU experience continue to affect many patients after discharge from the ICU. So there was need for ICU nurses, ward nurses and affiliated healthcare professionals to provide emotional support throughout ICU transfer. Strategies to provide this support must be developed, implemented and evaluated. Conclusions: There is a paucity of literature that specifically physical effect of transition among ICU patient and significance of transitional care in ICU. Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses’ understanding of critically ill patients’ transition may significantly impact the patients’ care in the Intensive Care Unit. Thus, research is needed that focuses more on evaluating nurses’ understanding of patients’ transition and its consequences.