Objectives: Intensive care patients often experience feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability when being transferred from an intensive care unit to a general ward. The aim of this study was to develop a grounded theory of nurses care for patients in the ICU transitional care process. Methods: Group interviews, individual interviews and participant observations were conducted with nurses in two hospitals in Sweden and were analysed using grounded theory. Result: The substantive theory shows the process of nursing care activities — from the contexts of the ICU and the general ward. The main concern was to achieve a coordinated, strengthening, person-centered standard of care to facilitate patient transitions. The core category ‘‘being perceptive and adjustable’’ was a strategy to individualise, that was related to the other categories; ‘‘preparing for a change’’ and ‘‘promoting the recovery’’. However, the nurses were forced to ‘‘balance between patient needs and the caregivers’ resources’’ and consequently were compromising their care. Conclusions: To facilitate an ICU-patient’s transition, individual care planning is needed. It is also essential that the patients are adequately prepared for the change to facilitate the transitional care. Knowledge about transitional needs, empowerment and patient-education seems to be important issues for facilitating transitions.