Revise

Elaborate
This assignment was particularly easy for
me, because when I think about caring
for a patient at end of life, I picture myself
doing all of these things. The theory was
straight forward and represented effective
ways for nurses to provide adequate end
of life care. During this assignment I felt
inspired to provide the best possible end
of life care that I possibly could.

Analyze

I believe that Kolcabas theory of comfort

is the best theory to use during end of
life care. I feel as if this theory is
adequate for the care we provide our
patients. The theory allows nurses to
build rapport with the patients and
families to adequately provide end of life
care. I have personally never taken care
of an individual during end of life. When
the situation presents itself, I will use
Kolcabas theory to guide me in caring
for my patient and their family.

Theory of
Comfort

When talking about end of life care it makes

me sad to think about the patient dying and
the family and friends effected by this. It also
inspires me to stay educated on the topic to
make the end of life process easier for
patients and family. Kolcabas theory is
helpful, because it displays how to
adequately ensure a patient and family are
comfortable at end of life. Health care
providers should not use this theory by itself
and should continue to critically think to
keep the patient and family comfortable.
This theory will help communicate patients
needs to an interdisciplinary team because
the nurse will use it as a guideline and report
key facts to the team displaying the patients
wishes about end of life.
Kolcaba, K. Y., & Fisher, E. M. (1996). A holistic perspective on comfort care as
an advance directive. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 18(4), 66-76.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8689455
Nursing Theory. (2013). Kolcabas theory of comfort. Retrieved from
http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/kolcaba-theory-ofcomfort.php

By: Courtney
Wright

Skills

Knowledge
Types of Comfort

Relief
-State of a patient that has a specific
need met

How to Engage Patients in Active

Partnerships

- They experience comfort with their

need being met
-Example: relief of post operative
pain by medications

Ease

Context in which Comfort Occurs

Physical
-Pertains to bodily sensations
Psychospiritual
- Pertains to internal awareness of
self

Environmental
- Pertains to external background
of human experience

Social

Building rapport with the patient

and family

Nurses critically think

- Want to develop and understanding

on how a patient might react to a
certain situation

Because rapport occurs, the

patient and their family start to
trust the nurse

They feel comfortable with the

nurse and the care he or she
provides

Feel comfort in asking questions

Feel comfortable sharing

personal information

Communication

-This leads to building rapport

-Where one rises above their

problems or pain
-Example: they display positive
thinking toward a certain topic

-Nurses should communicate

effectively

-Example: the patients anxiety is

calmed
Transcendence

Value of Active Partnership

- Empathy

-A state of calm or contentment

Attitude

Build rapport

-After rapport is established the

patient will feel comfortable with the
nurse and open up to him or her

Ask Questions
-

About end of life (what they want

or do not want to occur)

Do they need to reflect on their

past

Who do they want present during

end of life

Encourage family members to

ask questions if they have any

Patient feels comfort at end of life

-

The patient trusts the nurse and

will open up about what makes
them comfortable

Since they trust the nurse they

will feel at ease as they are
nearing death

The family feels comfort as their

loved one is experiencing end of
life
-

They will feel at ease with the

nurse being there during end of
life

They will be able to display

emotions

Will feel comfortable with asking