Midrange nursing theories bear connections to real-life scenarios because they describe abstract situations, verifiable through studies and testing. As a result, they act as the bridge between rand theories and the nursing practice. On that account, the Comfort Theory by Katherine Kolcaba has gained attention over the past years due to enhanced healthcare service delivery and better solutions to counter the illness. Kolcaba’s theory suggests that comfort is a desirable need individuals seek from their immediate environment. Therefore, nurse practitioners should always prioritize comfort because this approach enables them to deliver holistic health care. Subsequently, Gaibor et al. (2021) investigated the levels of comfort provided to the elderly in a senior institution and their impact on wellness. They determined that comfort is crucial but should incorporate several other factors to ensure health and wellness.
Kolcaba’s theory proposes that comfort exists in three independent and interactive dimensions: ease, relief, and transcendence. Nonetheless, these forms manifest in four contexts, i.e., environmental, physical, socio-cultural, and psychospiritual paradigms. Consequently, Gaibor et al. (2021) examined how nurses handle elderly individuals admitted to a center and the factors that enhance their comfort. According to the findings, elderly individuals feel better when in groups that allow them to share and make friends, as it helps inhibit loneliness, thus contributing to transcendence. Similarly, the institution provides individualized psychospiritual and spiritual wellness services, which greatly facilitate relief. Moreover, the medical personnel in the institution treat the elderly as family rather than patients. Similarly, they do everything within their power to suppress morbidity, ensuring ease and relief. However, the authors argue that several factors can alter the outcomes obtained from applying the Comfort model as a standalone approach. Hence, it is essential to incorporate other nursing theories to offer comprehensive healthcare.
Reference
Gaibor, D. M., Auquilla, J. Y., Sinche, N. P., & Paredes, N. V. (2021). Stories of the elderly in relation to Katharine Kolcaba’s Theory (Chillanes-Ecuador). Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research| Jan-Mar, 11(1), 49.