In order to understand the concept of comfort, the nursing diagnosis presented by North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, I have illustrated this in a variety of ways, citing situations commonly seen in the care of patients with problems familiar to everyone.
The situation of Mrs. Kim, was illustrative of the need for preventive care in order that she be given physical comfort and safety. Mrs. Lee´s incident brought out the fact that comfort and safety were jeopardized because the nurse had no Knowledge of Mrs. Lee´s diagnosis or plan of medical therapy. Thus, no intelligent, reasoned plan of care had been formulated. Mrs. Park´s situation, pointed out the need for awareness of potential need deprivation in order to provide her with physical comfort and safety because of her inability and physical incapacity to meet her own need. Mr. Hong´s case, illustrated that the degree of need deprivation was a significant factor in determining priority when two needs, simultaneously, regt,ure nursing intervention.
The nursing role is providing for physical comfort and safety when an individual cannot do this for himself, or is physically limited in what he can do, and teaching the patient so that he is aware of his needs and the means to obtain them.
We must have a broad base from which to develop a clear picture of the professional nurse´s role in providing for and measuring effectiveness of physical comfort and safety. We need to have knowledge that provides us with a base in physiology to understand man as a physical being, a base in pathophysiology so that patient problems can be understood and identified, a base for identifying the nursing problems that derive from patient problems, a base for determining professional role and function, and a base of available resources for coordinated and cooperative action.
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