Hospital and Nursing - Comfort

COMFORT

Comfort is a sense of mental and physical well being. Physical comfort gets affected due to a dirty and wet bed and lack of body alignment. High temperature and humidity, poor ventilation, too much noise, unpleasant odours and glaring lighting make the patient uncomfortable.

To promote comfort for the patients, certain mechanical devices can be used. Pillows can be used for giving support for the various part of the body.

Sometimes-patient feels comfortable in a propped up position. In a hospital, a backrest is provided for the patient to keep him in a sitting position.

For relaxation of abdominal muscles, when patients are in pain or after an abdominal operation, knees can be kept flexed by means of a knee rest.

A pillow or a blanket or sheet rolled as a pillow can be improvised as a knee rest. Patients should not be kept with flexed knees for a long period. His circulation may get affected. Hence his position is changed frequently.

For supporting feet and for preventing foot drop, foot rests are used. This device keeps the feet at right angles to the leg and prevents deformities. Foot-rest can be improvised with sand bags.

Other devices used as comfort measures are air rings or cotton rings and air cushions to prevent pressure ulcer.

Mental comfort is provided for the patient by eliminating his fear, anxiety and worry. He should receive sympathy and consideration from the nursing and medical staff. His relatives should avoid unpleasant news to him while he is in the hospital. Meeting his spiritual needs may help to give him mental peace and comfort.