Middle Range Nursing Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Middle Range Nursing Theory - Essay Example Patients that have terminal illness may feel distress or pain in any or all of these domains and that the desire for comfort should be evaluated and attended to on all areas, instead of simply focusing on the long-standing practice of managing physical pain. The purpose of this paper is to discuss Kolcaba’s comfort theory, particularly its history, principles, and concepts, and application to specific nursing practice. A Brief Description of Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory At the advent of the twentieth century, the concept of ‘comfort’ was applied in a broad way, and it was greatly appreciated in nursing. Furthermore, the capability to give comfort demonstrated the personality and skill of nurses. During this period, nurses thought that giving comfort was their sole responsibility. Comfort was mainly essential because therapeutic medical procedures were still absent (Kolcaba, 2003). Improving the comfort of patients was viewed as a proactive nursing objective tha t also was encouraging, and, in almost all instances, should involve progress from an earlier condition. Comfort arose from environmental, emotional, physical, and psychological interventions, but directives for special comfort procedures were under the doctor’s discretion. ... The value of family comfort started to surface during this period and families were regarded valid beneficiaries of comfort therapies. Nurses encouraged self-care in patients if at all possible. Comfort became the top priority of nurses only when their patients have terminal illness. Moreover, where nursing contexts were less affected by technology, like long-term care and nursing homes, comfort was more essential as a purpose of nursing (Fawcett & DeSanto-Madeya, 2012). Smith and Liehr (2008) argued that such pattern had wide-ranging repercussions for nursing in the twenty-first century, because of an increasingly aging population. More and more elders desire comfort in the remaining days of their lives. Frances Kolcaba describes comfort in nursing as â€Å"the satisfaction (actively, passively, or co-operatively) of the basic human needs for ‘relief’-- a condition wherein a patient’s special needs were met--, ‘ease’-- a condition of total peace and serenity-- or ‘transcendence’-- a condition wherein an individual overcomes pain and difficulties-- arising from health care situations that are stressful† (McEwen & Wills, 2007, 256). Kolcaba’s comfort theory takes place within a context made up of ‘three states of being’ and ‘four contexts’ wherein comfort for the ill can exist in (McEwen & Wills, 2007, 256). The three interconnected states of being wherein a patient is supported are relief, ease, and transcendence. The environmental, social, psychospiritual, and physical are the four contexts wherein comfort for patients takes place. The psychospiritual domain is where life’s purpose and meaning reside (McEwen & Wills, 2007, 256). Comfort theory is rooted in the idea that all human beings respond in a