Nursing Theory Testing - Essay Example

The basic principles in comfort theory are offering a holistic approach to nursing. This is achieved through supporting clinical decisions made by health officials. Secondly, the theory defines nursing care and explains why a patient requires specific health care based on their health condition. The theory also elaborates on the importance of family members and patients when participating in the nursing process for the effective recovery of the patient (Walker, 2011).

Kolcaba described nursing as a process of determining a patient's needs, making and implementing effective nursing interventions, and assessing a patient's comfort after nursing interventions. Evaluating may be through objects such as observing a wound as it heals or subjective which involves asking patients questions to understand if they are comfortable. Kolcaba also developed a theory to be used by nurses when caring for patients (Cook, 2008).

This is a nursing theory developed by Katharine Kolcaba in the 1990s. Kolcaba broke down the theory into three forms. Ease: This involves placing patients in a comfortable state for them to feel relaxed. It involves solving issues that could cause stress or anxiety to a patient. The second is the relief which is achieved by alleviating any pain that a patient may be experiencing. Comforting a patient by alleviating any physical injury on them that causes pain is an example of relief. Lastly, transcendence is a state of comfort in which clients can overcome their challenges and recover their original form (Cook, 2008).

Theory Testing Procedure involves qualitative analysis of comfort theory through critical thinking and assessing available data. The procedure involves exploring the richness, depth, and complexity involved in comfort theory. It is concerned with analyzing words, concepts, and impacts rather than the total number of patients under the given program. The procedures entail collecting information using relevant structures such as charts and maps and working out the procedure used in nursing. It also entails evaluating systems to determine whether they are effective enough in relieving, easing, and transcendence a patient's condition (Sitzman, 2011).

The first step involves identifying a patient's needs and investigating whether they are addressed. The second step is investigating the nursing interventions applied in the comforting process. This is followed up by analyzing any extra measures taken to ensure the well-being of a patient or enhance their comfort beyond their current conditions. Theory Testing Procedure should evaluate the methods used in identifying health-seeking behaviors. These behaviors could be internal. In such cases, a patient has a health condition that could not be observed from outside. The second behavior could be external. This condition involves observable characteristics such as bleeding wounds. The last step is analyzing the policies, practices, and standards set in comfort theory. These policies and practices should match a patient’s condition (Barry, 2005).

The procedure is used to establish a patient's comfort needs that have not been catered for by existing interventions or support systems. Nurses then design new interventions to handle unattended needs. The new intervention procedures are then taken into account to facilitate analysis to come up with immediate measures to enhance a patient's comfort, and subsequently develop health-seeking behaviors to enhance the overall recovery of a patient. If such procedures are in place, patient comfort is achievable. Patients are also encouraged and strengthened to seek advanced health services or die in peace. Health practitioners need to go through the comfort theory applied to a patient and test the process. This would ensure it is of high quality that could relieve and ease the medical condition of a patient. Lastly, when applying comfort theory, nurses should put into consideration the cultural, social, and psychological condition of a patient before proceeding with the process. These factors are important when enhancing the quick recovery of a patient (Nightingale, 2010).