Application of Kolcaba's Comfort Theory in Nursing Practice
The video above (stoddardmiranda, 2010) highlights the impact of the young, terminally ill, cancer patient's many discomforts on her physical and mental state, as well as her family's distress caused by these discomforts. The nurse is also effected by the patient's lack of comfort. In this scenario the advanced practitioner recognizes the value of increasing the nurse's comfort which will improve the patient's outcome as well as preserve the nurse's ability to continue doing her job. All the above assessments and interventions are a result of applying Kolcaba's Comfort Theory (CT).
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A 3x4 grid with 12 elements encompasses the total domain of patient comfort according to Kolcaba. The three senses of comfort along with the four contexts are organized into a taxonomic structure which can be a powerful guide for assessment, measurement, and evaluation of patient comfort (Kolcaba, 1991). The grid is filled with an assessment of this cancer patient’s comfort needs.
The application of Kolcaba's Comfort Theory is natural in nursing practice since nurses “intuitively assess their patient’s physical and mental comfort; the taxonomic approach provides a structure in which to place the formal or informal assessment. Because the structure is based on patients’ needs, nurses can intervene in specific ways, once a need is identified. Nurses can also assess the effectiveness of their interventions by
gauging the degree of comfort attained when comfort needs are targeted
specifically” (Kolcaba, 1992). The structure of the comfort grid above, provides a simple method to plan interventions for Ease once the Relief and Transcendence boxes are completed.
While the RN applies the Comfort Theory to care of the patient, as in the case above, the masters-prepared nurse sees CT more globally and uses it; to assist the hospital in attaining its goals, to help create a clean, comfortable, healthy place of work, and to care for staff who will feel comfortable and satisfied with their work.
The application of Kolcaba's Comfort Theory is natural in nursing practice since nurses “intuitively assess their patient’s physical and mental comfort; the taxonomic approach provides a structure in which to place the formal or informal assessment. Because the structure is based on patients’ needs, nurses can intervene in specific ways, once a need is identified. Nurses can also assess the effectiveness of their interventions by
gauging the degree of comfort attained when comfort needs are targeted
specifically” (Kolcaba, 1992). The structure of the comfort grid above, provides a simple method to plan interventions for Ease once the Relief and Transcendence boxes are completed.
While the RN applies the Comfort Theory to care of the patient, as in the case above, the masters-prepared nurse sees CT more globally and uses it; to assist the hospital in attaining its goals, to help create a clean, comfortable, healthy place of work, and to care for staff who will feel comfortable and satisfied with their work.