N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice

N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice Study Guide Nurses are in a unique position to be able to intervene in many of these areas. These interventions may allow the injured or sick person to recover more quickly. Comfort care is a holistic and individualized model for facilitating other treatments. Comfort care should be directed by the patient and delivered by the nurse in response to cues from the patient. In general, comfort needs can be categorized into one of four types: • Physical comfort needs relate to bodily sensations and the physiological problems associated with the medical diagnosis. Physical comfort needs include deficits in physiological mechanisms that are disrupted or at risk because of an illness or invasive procedure. Individuals who are not physically comfortable may be angry, stressed, or fearful. Until these basic comfort needs are met, the individual may not be receptive to other interventions; however, novice nurses implement physical comfort interventions to the exclusion of needs in the other three contexts described below. • Psychological comfort needs include the need for self-esteem, confidence, motivation, and trust in order for the individual to move peacefully through the discomforts of painful procedures or trauma that cannot be immediately relieved. • Social comfort needs are the needs for culturally sensitive reassurance, support, and caring. These needs are met through coaching, messages of wellness and encouragement, and developmentally appropriate information about every aspect that relates to a procedure, treatment, or other aspect of care. Social needs also include the needs of the family for financial assistance, paperwork assistance, respecting religious and cultural traditions, and provision of time for the family unit in their social network. • Environmental needs include orderliness, a quiet and comfortable room, minimal odors, a well-controlled temperature, and safety. The nurse should also be aware of the individual’s need for privacy and uninterrupted periods of time. All of these categories of comfort are critical. When intervening, for example, the nurse can comfort the patient during stressful times by: • Preparing the patient for the procedure by avoiding the word “pain” in all explanations (social comfort) • Inviting significant others to be present as appropriate (social and psychological comfort) • Utilizing the treatment room for stressful procedures instead of the patient’s hospital room (environmental comfort) • Providing a warm blanket for an individual undergoing a procedure (physical and environmental comfort) • Positioning the patient in a comfortable manner (physical comfort) • Maintaining a calm and positive atmosphere (environmental comfort) Comfort is a positive outcome that empowers patients and their families to engage in health-seeking behaviors. Comfort is also important for a peaceful death. A nurse can provide comfort measures directly or indirectly through family members or others. Indirect activities might include interventions, such as coordinating activities of other healthcare team members and providing a

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