tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87376902957115745652024-03-11T21:51:51.702-07:00Comfort Care in NursingA blog dedicated to advocate Dr. Katharine Kolcaba's Comfort Theory in NursingThe Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-20850700865200330782010-07-14T19:45:00.000-07:002010-07-10T10:46:47.180-07:00A Wake-Up Call<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">When presenting comfort care</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> to students a few years ago,</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> one earnest young man who had some prior</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> experience working in nursing homes raised his hand and asked,</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b> "Is this a new concept? I have never seen it being practiced!"</b></span></span><br style="color: #783f04;" /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> I think his question is a wake-up call to us in</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> nursing practice and education</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> to get back to the basics.</span></span></i></blockquote></blockquote><div style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>- Dr. Katharine Kolcaba (2003)</b></span> </div></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-56388430568945357562010-07-13T11:40:00.000-07:002010-07-14T10:22:13.370-07:00Comfort: A Fundamental Need<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Long ago, the field of nursing was merely perceived as giving of care to sick individuals. Just like other things, nursing has also evolved as time passed. Its evolution greatly influenced the nursing profession. Decades of study, the traditional type of care given to patients has evolved holistically. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Pioneered by Florence Nightingale, though was posthumously accredited as a nursing theorist, her nursing contributions had influenced the field of nursing far into holistic and professional level. At that juncture, the provision of care was reinvented which after her, other nursing theories has also been formulated and adapted into the practice of nursing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">According to Tomey and Alligood, nursing theory is a set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions or propositions derived from nursing models or from other disciplines. This projects a purposive, systematic view of phenomena by designing specific interrelationships among concepts for the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and prescribing.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLwdDWS_Ptfvxa4i9Vl9Y_oc2BveyIdxMwFdPPt6LEsr8NYZQZoLkFi75a9ZUdOFWwiwhdbgcXlGGqy46r3V_NYEujBK5IZKHsY1V1jSPlOUb3e5TofpXEys8s6UxDc5oHz2g7lQidG_N/s320/caring.jpg" /></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Interestingly, Kolcaba's comfort theory presents the very essence of nursing. Provision of care and comfort are the initial interventions that a nurse does for a sick person. The comfort theory was highly acknowledged because of its universality across all disciplines, widely an extension of other theories and was holistically given emphasis. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Her theory was derived from her experience in the practice of nursing. In her quest to introduce the concept to students, one young man with previous experience in nursing homes raised one question, <i>"Is this a new concept? I have never seen it being practiced?" </i>Unknowingly, it has been practiced even before the conceptualization of theories but with the advent of advanced technology in treating patients, providing comfort has been set aside and has never been a priority. This serves as an eye opener to all nurses. After all, comfort is one of the fundamental needs of all individuals.</span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</div><div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Reference:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Kolcaba, K. (2003). <i>Comfort theory and practice: A vision for holistic health care and research. </i>New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.</span><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Nursing theory. (n.d.). In <i>Wikipedia</i>. Retrieved July 07, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursing_theory</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Current Nursing. (2010, March 25). <i>Application of theory in nursing process</i>. Retrieved July 07, 2010, from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/application_nursing_theories.html</span><o:p></o:p></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-49854428460000485342010-07-09T23:23:00.000-07:002010-07-12T00:53:37.945-07:00A Closer Look at Kolcaba's Conceptual Framework<blockquote><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">“I hope that nurses will collectively move boldly into a future where knowing about, and doing something about human needs for comfort and relief from pain are clearly within nurses’ realm.” – P. Chinn (Kolcaba, 2003, p.19) </span></span></i></blockquote></blockquote><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Providing comfort is definitely within the nurses’ realm today. Nurses are the ones in direct contact with their patients, providing relief from certain discomforts, continuously assessing, monitoring and providing care that will ensure the client is at ease. According to Kolcaba, “<b>Comfort is the desirable state that nurses would want for their patients.</b>” </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_24AMEDsF5n4z7zFbQhOs8kLbQIu3Gm2pi2WWxsdP7ov3AYTn84ojCB2tJY8koNMfy0tFQubkoGF92e-OW03Vt0dtWZbD3UyITdaSLSeetCnBN-Rdz5KMZ8ikkCNJrCVQJahuSeZ8SSR1/s1600/Kolcaba's+Conceptual+Framework.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_24AMEDsF5n4z7zFbQhOs8kLbQIu3Gm2pi2WWxsdP7ov3AYTn84ojCB2tJY8koNMfy0tFQubkoGF92e-OW03Vt0dtWZbD3UyITdaSLSeetCnBN-Rdz5KMZ8ikkCNJrCVQJahuSeZ8SSR1/s320/Kolcaba's+Conceptual+Framework.png" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">(click on the picture to enlarge)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The conceptual framework shows the different concepts linked together in nursing care. Through years of analyzing and working on the midrange theory of comfort, Kolcaba came to three technical senses of comfort. Relief is provided when a specific need of a patient was met. Ease is the state where the patient is calm and contented. Finally, transcendence is when the patient went beyond the comfort need. Health care needs, nursing interventions and intervening variables are factors to consider so that the goal of enhanced comfort of the patient can be achieved in all the context of the human experience which are physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural and environmental. Once enhanced comfort is attained, the patient is moved to taking part in steps to make his condition better. It is also true the other way around. When an individual becomes proactive in his health care, enhanced comfort is maintained. Another concept that was incorporated into the framework is that of institutional integrity. If people are inspired to do better in terms of health care, it will increase utilization of health care facilities and services leading to continuous assessment of the health care system to meet the demands. This will in turn result to improvements made to the system. (Kolcaba, 2003)<br />
<br />
The latter part was included because the comfort framework can be applied to other health care disciplines and will bring about holistic care for the patients. <br />
<br />
Nurses play a central role in the provision of comfort. They are the ones who give comfort measures so clients can feel relief, ease and transcendence. It is time to be bold and give comfort to those who need it. </span><br />
<br />
<div><div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Reference:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Kolcaba, K. (2003). <i>Comfort theory and practice: A vision for holistic health care and research. </i>New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.</span><o:p></o:p></div></div></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-2141864809632046312010-07-09T02:20:00.000-07:002010-07-16T02:34:27.829-07:00Dr. K on Facebook!<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Right, you read that right, Dr. Kolcaba is on Facebook! We tried to contact her regarding the theory and good thing she promptly responded.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvvc0l0wZk8wd7NUJx9_BWG-Jai5HwiDP1kkzH4Qt_iLE3sf2VekZ-U4lGOd5ugBPXop7fGKmN8d6Remj9VS-C0pdpdyRkk26M1fr2uX8_RYHz0zAaGAZDKDi2G5KyqatkAnuyGVnSECv/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvvc0l0wZk8wd7NUJx9_BWG-Jai5HwiDP1kkzH4Qt_iLE3sf2VekZ-U4lGOd5ugBPXop7fGKmN8d6Remj9VS-C0pdpdyRkk26M1fr2uX8_RYHz0zAaGAZDKDi2G5KyqatkAnuyGVnSECv/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(click on the picture to enlarge)<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">You may use this quick link to her Facebook's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Comfort-Theory-in-Healthcare/388033850642?ref=ts">Comfort Theory in Health Care</a> page.</span></div></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-38572826447544723942010-07-08T23:43:00.000-07:002010-07-10T10:57:28.332-07:00Nurse's Role<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Several nurse theorists have already defined nursing. All of their theories has been tried and tested and it has affected our utilization of nursing services or the standards of care we give to our patients: <br />
</span> <br />
<blockquote style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">“…what nursing has to do…is to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him.” – Florence Nightingale </span><br style="color: #783f04;" /><br style="color: #783f04;" /><span style="color: #783f04;">“The care circle explains the role of nurses, and focused on performing that noble task of nurturing the patients, meaning the component of this model is the “motherly” care provided by nurses, which may include limited to provision of comfort measures, provision of patient teaching activities and helping the patient meet their needs where help is needed.” – Lydia Hall </span></i></span></blockquote><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> All of these can be summed up in one word…COMFORT. Comfort is a concept that has a strong association with nursing. The term itself represented a relaxed, healthy, peaceful, and individualized condition. Nurses traditionally provide comfort to patients and their families through interventions that can be called comfort measures. The intentional comforting actions of nurses strengthen patients and their families. When patients and families are strengthened by actions of health care personnel (nurses), they can better engage in health seeking behaviors. </span><br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</div><div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Reference: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kolcaba, K. (2010, May 17). <i>The comfort line: Frequently asked questions</i>. Retrieved from The Comfort Line website: http://www.thecomfortline.com/FAQ.html<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-4001378296455634892010-07-07T23:28:00.000-07:002010-07-15T12:24:34.081-07:00Comfort Theory: An Overview<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">In the light of current nursing shortage, health care system should find the means to address this problem in order to continue achieving the goal, which is <b>to provide the optimum level of health of a person or client.</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">During the 1900’s, comfort is considered the goal of both nursing and medicine because it is believed that <b>comfort will lead to recovery</b>. <b><i>Comfort is a complex term and titled as one of the distinguishing characteristic of the nursing profession yet, it has never been conceptualized, studied and researched in the field.</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">In this part of the blog, you will notice that we include certain terms about the theory in which you may get confused of but don’t worry because each will be discussed further as you read the other posts in this blog.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Pioneering the work on theory of comfort in nursing is <b>Dr. Katharine C. Kolcaba PhD, RN</b>, an American nursing scholar, a clinical nurse specialist who attained several scholastic awards and achievements. With her collated readings, knowledge, experiences and researches... she <b>was able to provide a holistic definition for comfort not only in nursing but for the whole health care team.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The theory of comfort is one of the many </b><b>middle range nursing theory</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> because it is focused on a limited dimension of the reality of nursing. It is formulated to provide guidance for everyday practice and scholarly research rooted in the discipline of nursing.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">According to Kolcaba, Comfort <b>has 3 existing forms... Relief, Ease and Transcendence. It also includes 4 contexts in which patient comfort can occur... Physical, Psycho-spiritual, Environmental and Socio-cultural.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Similar to all other Nursing Theories, Kolcaba was also able to <b>apply the 4 concepts in the metaparadigm of nursing (Person, Health, Nursing and Environment)</b> according to her theory. In this theory, she proposed that the term <b>“Nursing Interventions” should be changed to “Comfort Interventions”</b> as to broaden its application and not specify the work only to nurses. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Her theory also talked about <b>comfort considered to be a positive concept and is associated with activities that nurture and strengthen patients.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort has <b>a real potential to direct the work and thinking of all health care providers within one institution</b> since, it appears that the <b>concept of comfort is universally present in all culture and appropriate universal goal for healthcare.</b><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">As her study continues, it is speculated that if Comfort Theory is adapted to <b>include all health care providers and implemented as an institution-wide framework for practice</b>... <b>Comfort for patients will be enhanced further, thus, increasing their health-seeking behaviour</b>--- A win-win situation for the patient, the hospital/institution and the society.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">There are a lot of benefits we can get in learning and applying Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort as it <b>promotes greater understanding and collaboration between health care team members</b> addressing the current shortage in health care team. In addition, it <b>will improve societal acceptance and appreciation of the health institution and increase patient satisfaction</b>. </span></div></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>References:</b> </span></div></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">March, A., & McCormack, D., (April 2009). Nursing theory-directed healthcare: Modifying kolcaba's comfort theory as an institution-wide approach. <i>Holistic Nursing Practice.</i> 23(2). Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=851431</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Smith, M., & Liehr, P. (2008). <i>HMiddle range theory for nursing second edition. </i>Retrieved from www.springerpub.com/samples/9780826119162_chapter.pdf</span><o:p></o:p></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-213694064593226992010-07-06T09:18:00.000-07:002010-07-15T12:25:18.377-07:00Comfort Care in Various Healthcare Disciplines<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kolcaba’s comfort theory is not relevant only in the nursing field, but also engages the other healthcare disciplines. When providers of health care are driven to the same goal of making comfort available, the needs of the patient is adequately met. Furthermore, improvements in health seeking behaviors as well as institutional integrity is experienced. The following case sample illustrates comfort care continuity across the various healthcare fields.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr. S. is a 45-year-old Canadian man who has just been admitted to the ICU postoperative cardiac surgery. He has had an uneventful coronary artery bypass graft with no complications in the operating room. He is intubated and placed on complete mechanical ventilation. His vital signs are: blood pressure (BP) 150/90 mm Hg, heart rate 86 beats per minute, respiratory rate 12 breaths per minute, and temperature 35.3[degrees]C.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxJEJXZE9ba0cr1UXUfyWlNIH06JSTBRkXYXuB19It-IGQhIxJbAcECcuPF8K5Q-KRSBcR1oI5sfHUqni6EOeYCI4MyPEC1JJp_8lKFmOmtIis5BA6DsplTTHhUQMs9LX_GARzfe4z7dd/s320/multidisciplinary+approach.jpg" /></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The surgeon caring for Mr. S. is familiar with Kolcaba's comfort theory and structures the orders accordingly. The target systolic BP for Mr. S. is less than 130 mm Hg and the surgeon's postoperative orders include BP medications and intravenous morphine sulfate for pain. In addition, the surgeon prescribes an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ketorolac, to be administered to the patient once it has been determined that they are not bleeding excessively and have acceptable renal function. This close attention to treatment of pain represents a comfort intervention instituted by the surgeon that not only addresses a particular healthcare need of the patient but also recognizes the importance the surgeon has placed on of the relief form of comfort. There is a standing order in place for warming patients postoperative coronary artery bypass graft.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ICU where Mr. S. is admitted has a respiratory therapist (RT) on staff. This RT is aware that mechanical ventilation is very uncomfortable for patients. There is a standing order in the ICU that heart surgery patients may be weaned from the ventilator as tolerated and extubated when stable. Using Kolcaba's theory, the RT decides to wean and extubate Mr S. as soon as possible postoperatively.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The nurse caring for Mr S. also structures patient care using Kolcaba's theory. When Mr S. is beginning to arouse from the anesthesia, he is grimacing and his BP is rising above the target level. Had the nurse not been familiar with comfort theory, she may have chosen to simply treat Mr. S.'s BP with medications designed to target only BP. Because this nurse is accustomed to assessing comfort needs, she recognizes that this patient response is suggestive of increasing pain and administers morphine sulfate as ordered. In addition, Mr. S. is given a warming blanket to increase his body temperature. Both of these interventions represent the nurse helping Mr. S. to achieve comfort in the relief sense.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next morning, Mr. S. is seen by the ICU physiotherapist, who has also been educated in comfort theory. When assessing Mr. S.'s comfort needs, the physiotherapist recognizes that he is anxious about moving and exercising so soon after surgery. With this in mind, the physiotherapist carefully explains her plan of care to Mr. S. in a calm and unhurried manner. This allows Mr. S. to relax, what Kolcaba has referred to as the ease sense of comfort. He becomes willing and able to work with the physiotherapist in his postoperative exercise routine, thus exhibiting what Kolcaba refers to as health-seeking behaviors, or comfort in the transcendence sense.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">The healthcare team worked collaboratively to enhance the patient's comfort during the immediate postoperative period. This, in turn, led to Mr. S. having a successful recovery period with no significant complications.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because this hospital follows Kolcaba's comfort theory when caring for all of their patients, institutional integrity is enhanced by an overall increase in positive patient outcomes, a decreased hospital length of stay, and continued community hospital support.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>References:</b> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">March, A., & McCormack, D., (April 2009). Nursing theory-directed healthcare: Modifying kolcaba's comfort theory as an institution-wide approach. <i>Holistic Nursing Practice.</i> 23(2). Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=851431</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Kolcaba, K. (2010, March 4). <i>Conceptual framework for comfort theory. </i>Retrieved from http://www.thecomfortline.com/index.html</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Kolcaba, K. (2010, May 17). <i>Types and contexts of comfort. </i>Retrieved from http://www.thecomfortline.com/FAQ.html#types and contexts</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in; text-indent: -0.3in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Kolcaba, K. (2010, May 17). <i>Definitions, propositions and assumptions for theory. </i>Retrieved from http://www.thecomfortline.com/FAQ.html#definitions</span><o:p></o:p></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-58036456495023095962010-07-04T22:44:00.000-07:002010-07-16T09:18:24.485-07:00NARS<div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This personal blog entry was made way back December 08, 2007... It may be out of place here, but my primary reason of re-posting it is for us to see where we have been through before. It is in our formative years as nurses (student nurses) when our clinical instructors and professors shared to us that nursing care will truly be appreciated once we provide comfort to our patients. Anyway, we all started developing our comfort caring attitude as nurses during our college years. Now, take a glance at our memory lane! </span></div><br />
<hr size="3" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" width="70%" /><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">Last Friday I applied for my SSS and TIN numbers to finally complete my UST Hospital staff nurse position candidate requirements. I am not yet qualified for the position because I'm still for interview and still a lot more processes and qualifying stuffs to hurdle before making it there. I passed the requirements and my objectives for the day were met. So just to kill the time I decided to pass by SM Manila to take a good look at what they offer during their Friday sale. Only to realize that I'm broke. Huhu.. And I barely have enough money for fare to get home. Oh I just miss my college days... Thinking of my bum status just makes me so devitalized... Edi nag-window shopping nalang ako... :p</span><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">While strolling I saw a movie poster featuring some nurses.. So to satisfy my curiosity I went on the 4th level to examine the movie poster. It was Jennelyn Mercado on the title role and some local artists as nurses. It was produced by Carl Balita. And to shorten it all.. I watched the movie.. Haha.. Then the desire to learn about the movie was satisfied.. Take note.. Only the desire to know about the film was satisfied but I'm not claiming that the film satisfied me. (?!)</span><br />
<br />
<div><center style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kcOQwk-i2Og&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kcOQwk-i2Og&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></center></div><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">NARS featured the lives of a group of nursing students on their last year of college on their way to the board examination. The language used was simple but they also used some technical terms in which only individuals in the medical field could relate to such as petechiae, TAHBSO, Billroth, IMCI, etc. Technically, the film making was not so good yet not so bad. Although problems with blocking, lighting, and picture quality were obvious. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">Theme-wise, I was so able to relate with their struggles as nursing students, the sleepless nights, the patients hesitant to cooperate with the students, the chismisan in the nurses' station, an inconsiderate clinical instructor, and a lot more. The movie featured numerous issues in the nursing education today but not much effort was given to tackle the issues in profundity. Acting-wise, okay lang...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">Each character in the story presented their reason for taking up nursing and believe me you could relate to their reasons. As in I could see my classmates back in college in them especially when answering the question, "Why nursing?" and surely you'd get varied responses. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">I believe I saw a classmate, a board topnocher, Jaimie Mislang, in the movie. It was a clip of the Oath Taking last October 2, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum. Nakapasa kasi yung mga nursing students ng story sa board exam kaya pinakita yung Oath taking. Eh nakita ko si Jaimie. Ahehehe. I'm uncertain if it really was her with her right hand raised. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">Since I was able to relate to some points in the lives of the nursing students and I saw a classmate in the movie, I give 3 out of 5 stars for NARS.</span><br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br />
<hr size="3" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" width="70%" /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0000a0;">As of re-posting this entry, July 04, 2010, the DVD version is still available at the PNA Center at Ermita, Manila. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #0000a0;">- Heherson Morales, RN</span><br />
</span>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-5646878176504401462010-07-01T20:32:00.000-07:002010-07-10T06:03:20.940-07:00You Make A Difference<center><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6jSHijyznyM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6jSHijyznyM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></center><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Be moved. Take some minutes off and see and feel how our patients value us. Thank you, nurses.</span>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-13165333554139871642010-06-29T08:45:00.000-07:002010-07-10T06:03:04.174-07:00You'll Be A Great Success<div style="color: #333399; font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;">"If" for Nurses </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> If you can bring a special understanding<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> To all of those entrusted to your care<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> <span style="color: #9999ff;">And meet their needs, no matter how demanding</span><br />
</span><span style="color: #9999ff; font-size: 100%;"> With patience and energy to spare;</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> If you can lend each task your full devotion,<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> And always try to listen and to cheer,<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> <span style="color: #9999ff;">If you can learn to understand emotion,</span><br />
</span><span style="color: #9999ff; font-size: 100%;"> And comfort others just by being near;</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> If you look forward with anticipation<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> to meeting special challenges each day,<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> <span style="color: #9999ff;">If you keep your faith and dedication</span><br />
</span><span style="color: #9999ff; font-size: 100%;"> Whenever disappointment comes your way;</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> If you take pride in giving your profession<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> The finest skills and talents you possess,<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #9999ff; font-size: 100%;"> Then all your dreams and goals will find expression</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #9999ff; font-size: 100%;"> And, as a nurse, you'll be a great success.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> ~Author Unknown~ </span></div>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8737690295711574565.post-47826536945883899502010-06-28T01:02:00.000-07:002010-07-10T09:59:48.310-07:00Our Beloved Profession<center><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B0G9fMvoW18&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B0G9fMvoW18&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>The Comfortlinershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557361128589443944noreply@blogger.com1