Metaparadigm as Related to the Theory of Comfort
My Metaparadigm as Related to the Theory of Comfort
Introduction
Practicing as a nurse, I realize I follow my own metaparadigm of nursing. In this paper, I relate my own personal beliefs with that of a popular nursing theorist. Though my research on theory is just beginning, I feel my metaparadigm most relates to that of Katharine Kolcaba and her theory of comfort. I will seek to illustrate my philosophy with the knowledge and nursing experience I have.
Origin of Theory The idea of comfort and theory started to develop as early 1859, with Florence Nightingale. This inspiration continued to progress with other theorists such as Ida Jean Orlando and Virginia Henderson. Katherine Kolcaba is a newer middle range theorist. She started her career as a nurse on a dementia unit, where the aspect of the importance of comfort was first idealized. She continued her career as a professor, and is still, to this day teaching nursing theory at a university near Cleveland. The highpoint of her profession, was in 1991, when she published her theory whereas comfort was the ultimate goal. In 1994, Katherine and her husband ultimately tested this theory in an intervention study (Dowd, 2010). The theory of comfort was originally intended for a patient/family centered model. According to Kolcaba’s theory, the more comfortable a patient and/or family are, the more willing they are to welcome health and healing. This theory was then applied to nurses in their profession. The more comfortable a nurse was the more satisfied and effective they are regarding their own profession (Kolcaba, Tilton, & Drouin, 2006). There are 3 types of comfort as defined by Kolcaba (2003), “(a) relief-the state of having a specific comfort needs met; (b) ease- the state of calm or contentment; (c) transcendence- the state in which one can rise above problems or pain.”
Kolcaba’s Metapardigm The nursing metaparadigm consists of nursing, person, environment, and health. Nursing is
Introduction
Practicing as a nurse, I realize I follow my own metaparadigm of nursing. In this paper, I relate my own personal beliefs with that of a popular nursing theorist. Though my research on theory is just beginning, I feel my metaparadigm most relates to that of Katharine Kolcaba and her theory of comfort. I will seek to illustrate my philosophy with the knowledge and nursing experience I have.
Origin of Theory The idea of comfort and theory started to develop as early 1859, with Florence Nightingale. This inspiration continued to progress with other theorists such as Ida Jean Orlando and Virginia Henderson. Katherine Kolcaba is a newer middle range theorist. She started her career as a nurse on a dementia unit, where the aspect of the importance of comfort was first idealized. She continued her career as a professor, and is still, to this day teaching nursing theory at a university near Cleveland. The highpoint of her profession, was in 1991, when she published her theory whereas comfort was the ultimate goal. In 1994, Katherine and her husband ultimately tested this theory in an intervention study (Dowd, 2010). The theory of comfort was originally intended for a patient/family centered model. According to Kolcaba’s theory, the more comfortable a patient and/or family are, the more willing they are to welcome health and healing. This theory was then applied to nurses in their profession. The more comfortable a nurse was the more satisfied and effective they are regarding their own profession (Kolcaba, Tilton, & Drouin, 2006). There are 3 types of comfort as defined by Kolcaba (2003), “(a) relief-the state of having a specific comfort needs met; (b) ease- the state of calm or contentment; (c) transcendence- the state in which one can rise above problems or pain.”
Kolcaba’s Metapardigm The nursing metaparadigm consists of nursing, person, environment, and health. Nursing is
References: Dowd, T. (2010). Theory of comfort. In M.R. Alligood & A.M. Tomey (Eds.), Nursing theorists and their work (7th ed., pp. 706-717). Maryland Heights, MO: Mosby/Elsevier. Kolcaba, K. (2003.) Comfort Theory and Practice: A Vision for Holistic Health Care. New York, NY: Springer. Kolcaba, K., Tilton, C., & Drouin, C. (2006). Comfort Theory: A unifying framework to enhance the practice environment. Journal of Nursing Administration, 36(11), 538-544. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/pages/default.aspx