The 4 Metaparadigm Concepts According to the Comfort Theory
Ferris State University Ashley Cruz Kate Galloup Toni Leaf-Odette
Jaime Stevenson
Slide 3
Nurse Comfort for nurses: Chitty & Black, 2011 Engagement
Administrative support Compassionate mentoring Autonomy Continuing
education Personal resources A nursing theory that was developed by
Katharine Kolcaba in the early 90s to help bring comfort back as a
leader in care. Kolcaba stated comfort was decided as in 3 forms:
relief, ease and transcendence It was achieved when the patient
felt a physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural
state of mind Relief is achieved when analgesics are administered
to those in pain Ease is achieved when a patient has a comfort
state of mind Transcendence is achieved when a patient successfully
achieves a set goal Concepts and Definitions
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DESCRIPTION OF THE THEORY This includes the patient, their
family members and any social group that helps define the patient
(Kolcaba, 2011). A community in need of healthcare (Kolcaba, 2011).
The patient or family member that can be influenced by a nurse or
other health facilitator to help enhance comfort Religious beliefs
and general attitude towards death and dying (Johnson, 2010).
PERSON/PATIENT ENVIRONMENT Health is considered to be optimal
functioning, as defined by the patient, group, family or community
(Kolcaba). People need to feel comfortable in their own bodies. An
evaluation of ones vulnerability to a condition and the seriousness
of that condition (Black, p. 253). An evaluation of how effective
the healthy maintenance behavior might be (Black, p. 253). The
presence of a trigger event that precipitates the health
maintenance behavior (Black, p. 253). It is our responsibility to
help people meet their goals. Society and social groups play a
major role. HEALTH
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Improvement of the Health Care Environment LOCAL Deals directly
with the patient, setting realistic goals that the patient and
staff member agree upon to establish accurate health goals. Use
what resources are available at that time to help decrease
discomfort for the patient and family. Pain focused treatment
Decrease complications of pain Decrease use of resources = Improved
health (Kolcaba, 2003). REGIONAL When satisfying more and more
patients at a local level increases response at a regional level.
This is accomplished by spreading word through people and
conferences. Return to former functioning Faster healing =
Decreased use of regional resources
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GLOBAL When patients, families, and nurses are satisfied with
health care in an institution, public acknowledgment about that
institutions contributions to health care will help the institution
remain viable and flourish. Economical and effective nursing across
all borders. GLOBAL
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Comfort Care Just plain works!!! What nursing has to do is to
put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him
(Florence Nightengale) Comfort Theory utilizes a variety of
techniques and interventions to encourage Health Seeking Behaviors
Comfort care encourages Health Seeking Behaviors both at internal
and external levels. Comfort Care encourages institutional
integrity which improves medical treatments locally, regionally and
globally by making institutions more efficient, effective and
financially sound.
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Evidence based practice Can be based on 4 patterns of knowing
that nurses use to determine the best practice for situations.
These 4 levels of knowing were first developed by Carper in 1978.
This concept of evidence based practice and decision making has
been expanded upon since. (Fawcett)
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Conclusion Holistic comfort is defined as the immediate
experience of being strengthened through having the needs for
relief, ease, and transcendence met in four contexts of experience
(physical, psychospiritual, social, and environmental) (Kolcaba,
2010).
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REFERENCES: Chitty, K. & Black, B. (2011). Professional
Nursing: Concepts & Challenges, 6 th ed. Maryland Heights, MO:
Saunders Elsevier. Comfort Theory by Katharine Kolcaba. (2011).
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http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/comforthttp://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/comfort
Fawcett, J., Watson, J., Neuman, B., Walker, P.H., Fitzpatrick,
J.J., (2001). On Nursing theories and evidence. Vol 33:2. P.
115-119. Retrieved from
filr:///C/Users/user/Downloads/http://digilib.bc.edu-reserves-nu417-
dema-nu417119.pdf Gozalo, A., (2011) Theoretical foundations of
nursing. Florence Nightingale. Retrieved from
www.nursingtheories.weebly.com/Florence-nightinhal.html Johnson, W.
(2010, March 19). Four Basic Metaparadigm Concepts in Nursing.
eHow. Retrieved June 22, 2014, from
http://www.ehow.com/list_6106429_four-basic-
metaparadigm-concepts-nursing.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/list_6106429_four-basic-
Kolcaba's Theory of Comfort. (2013). - Nursing Theory. Retrieved
June 22, 2014, from
http://nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/kolcaba-theory-of-comfort.php
http://nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/kolcaba-theory-of-
Kolcaba, K. (2010, May 17 th ). The comfort line: Frequently asked
questions. Retrieved from The Comfort Line website:
http://www.thecomfortline.com/FAQ.htmlhttp://www.thecomfortline.com/FAQ.html