Applying the Theory of Comfort in Nursing Practice

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Nursing practice can be complex due to the fact that people in general can be vastly different in their wants, needs, and expectations. However, one thing that has been found to be true amongst people is their desire for comfort. One middle-range theory that is essential in nursing practice today is the theory of comfort. This theory emphasizes the importance of comfort within the health care setting. Comfort increases the overall experience of the patient and their family, it increases their ability to heal and cooperate, and it also positively impacts health care and medical facilities. This research shows how the theory of comfort needs to be implemented across all medical fields, especially nursing, if professionals want to provide the highest quality of care for their patients.
Kolcaba (2001) states that nursing is the process of observing and determining the comfort needs of patients. Assessment may be objective based solely on observation or subjective based on asking the patient whether or not they are comfortable. The nurse is expected to create and execute appropriate nursing interventions as well as evaluate the patient’s comfort after the interventions. The research believes this is crucial in health care settings when first coming in contact with a patient. People are constantly looking for comfort both within and outside of health care. Being in a situation that can be confusing, overwhelming, painful, or scary only increases the necessity for comfort. Drouin, Kolcaba, and Tilton (2006) further support this notion when doing research on examples of poor quality of care of a group of patients. Such examples included patient and family complaints, skin breakdown, medication errors, injuries, and secondary complicatio...

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...ithin health care is essential. Overall, it will have a positive impact on both the medical field and the public it serves.

Works Cited

Drouin, C., Kolcaba, K., Tilton C. (2006). Comfort Theory: A Unifying Framework to Enhance the Practice Environment. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 36 (11), 534-544.
Kolcaba, K. (2001). Evolution of the Mid Range Theory of Comfort for Outcomes Research. Nursing Outlook, 49 (2), 86-92.
Malinowski, A. Stamler, L. (2002). Comfort: Explorations of the Concept in Nursing; Journal of Advanced Nursing, 39 (6), 599.606.
March, A., McCormack D. (2009). Nursing Theory-Directed Healthcare: Modifying Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory as an Institution-Wide Approach. Holistic Nursing Practice, 23 (2), 75- 80.
Wright, A. (2011). Trauma Resuscitations and Patient Perceptions of Care and Comfort. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 18 (4), 231-240.

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