Comfort Contract
Evidence suggests that patients do better when their expectations about specific benefits of nursing care are discussed and met. Design a “comfort contract” whereby patients or their surrogates designate an expected level of postsurgical overall comfort, and also where they can specify chronic discomforts and interventions that they use at home for relief.
Sample Solution
Comfort Contract
I, [patient's name], or my surrogate, [surrogate's name], agree to the following terms:
- I expect to be as comfortable as possible during my post-surgical recovery.
- I will communicate my pain and discomfort to my nurse or other healthcare provider so that they can be addressed promptly.
- I will follow the instructions of my nurse or other healthcare provider regarding pain management and other interventions to promote comfort.
- I will inform my nurse or other healthcare provider of any chronic discomforts that I have and the interventions that I use at home to relieve them.
- I understand that there may be times when my comfort needs cannot be met perfectly, but I will work with my nurse or other healthcare provider to find solutions that work for me.
- [List of chronic discomforts]
- [List of interventions]