Theory of Comfort by Katharine Kolcaba 

Scholarly paper due 24 hours-theory of comfort by katharine kolcaba

1. Introduction

a) Identification of theorist including a brief background of the theorist (accomplishments, career, accolades, research efforts)

Katharine Kolcaba is a nursing theorist who developed the Theory of Comfort. Kolcaba was born in 1944 and earned her nursing degree from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio. She later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Akron, a Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Akron. Kolcaba worked as a clinical nurse specialist, nursing instructor, and nursing administrator. In 1990, she published the Theory of Comfort, which is now widely used in nursing practice and education. Kolcaba received numerous accolades for her work, including the Midwest Nursing Research Society’s Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Research Award and induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.

2. Analysis of basic components/concepts and major relationships in the theory

a) Briefly discuss the theory’s core concepts

The Theory of Comfort by Katharine Kolcaba is a nursing theory that focuses on the concept of comfort. Kolcaba defines comfort as a state that is achieved through the process of meeting physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental needs. The theory consists of three main components: relief, ease, and transcendence. Relief is the state of comfort that is achieved when a patient’s physical or psychological discomfort is eased. Ease is the state of comfort that is achieved when a patient’s needs are met, and they feel calm and content. Transcendence is the state of comfort that is achieved when a patient’s needs are met, and they are able to rise above their current state of discomfort and find meaning or purpose in their experience.

Kolcaba also identified four types of comfort: physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental. Physical comfort refers to the patient’s physical state, such as pain or discomfort from illness or injury. Psychospiritual comfort refers to the patient’s psychological and spiritual state, such as fear, anxiety, or spiritual distress. Sociocultural comfort refers to the patient’s cultural and social needs, such as the need for social support or communication. Environmental comfort refers to the patient’s physical environment, such as noise levels or temperature.

b) Use a secondary source that covers the selected nursing theory, you must have a minimum of 3 references from nursing literature (only one from a non-article source like a secondary source/text) to support your discussion in this section.

According to McEwen and Wills (2019), Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort is a middle-range nursing theory that focuses on holistic patient care. The theory is based on the premise that comfort is a basic human need and that meeting the patient’s comfort needs can promote healing, reduce stress, and improve patient outcomes. The authors state that the theory has been used in a variety of clinical settings and that it provides a framework for nursing practice that emphasizes the importance of addressing the patient’s physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental needs.

3. Relevance

a) Personal relevance if any of the authors described (connect the theorist to the theory)

As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not have personal relevance.

b) Relevance to healthcare and the client discussed (connect the theory to healthcare today)

The Theory of Comfort has significant relevance to healthcare today. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the patient’s holistic needs and provides a framework for providing patient-centered care.