The “Art” of Comfort Theory and Its Visual Representation
Jessica Doronila
New Jersey City University

The “Art” of Comfort Theory and Its Visual Representation
The art of nursing is the intentional creative use of oneself, based upon skill and expertise, to transmit emotion and meaning to another. It is a process that is subjective and requires interpretation, sensitivity, imagination, and active participation (Rodgers, B.L., 2006). To find a work of art that reflects a nursing theory is relatively a complex task. Nursing theory can be indistinguishable from one’s own perspective. Art can be defined as a diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities usually involving imaginative or technical skill (Merriam-Webster, 2015). This definition is a clear depiction of how art and nursing go hand in hand.
The Theory of Comfort by Katherine Kolcaba was chosen here because of its universality. Comfort is one type of nursing art that is strengthening and satisfying. While working in an area with medically fragile children the application of this theory is unbounded for it is required in various ways. Both the work of art and the theory of comfort were specifically chosen as they exemplify this particular specialty of nursing. While examining various works of art a specific artist came to mind: Regina Egger. She painted a piece “Safe with Me” that was the perfect image to display the perception of this theory. This painting is multifaceted and says much more than the meaning of the title. To know the story behind it also gives one a better insight to what the image displays. Comfort has many different meanings. It can be in the form of a verb or noun. Comfort indicates both mental and physical manifestations. Through the use of imagination the expression of this image is more than ordinary significance. “Safe with Me” depicts a woman holding a child while sitting in a rocking chair. It appears that there is a problem with the child’s situation. The woman found the need to step in as a necessity of protection. This child needs comfort and safety on many different levels. In the secure pair of arms he needs not to be afraid. The woman is there to comfort him. In return she also feels a sense of comfort, ease and peace that he is with her at that moment. With the child compromised and having no control over the situation at hand, the motherly instinct shows itself. She holds him close to her heart so he is comforted with every beat. The way she embraces him and the positioning of her arms corresponds with his body language of relief. As the chair rocks back and forth and he cuddles closer it subconsciously brings him back to the sensation of feeling safe like when in the womb. Her facial expression is soft with a feeling of love and content because she has met his needs. And even if it is just for that moment, he has no worries. The artist chose black and white to represent the underlying situation. It suggests that the moment was not joyous and vibrant but instead solemn and somber. Behind the child it is a darker shade of grey as to represent that the problem stems from him. As the colors begin to blend there is a lighter shade that is just over the woman and child. The gray areas signify no sense of what the future holds for him but for that moment without any hint of disturbance they are whole, comforted and secure. The woman holds her glasses in her hand because of fear that they would fall onto him and possibly hurt him. To protect him is her focus. The accent of white over her hair and clothing as well as over his clothing symbolizes light in both of their lives. On her right shoulder and his left shoulder the artist purposely placed signs of the cross. The crosses represent the Holy Spirit and in a subtle tone is a declaration of Christianity. Kolcaba describes comfort as the immediate experience of being strengthened by having needs for relief, ease, and transcendence (Masters, 2015). These needs are addressed in four contexts. First is physical which pertains to bodily sensations and homeostatic mechanisms; second is psychospiritual pertains to the internal awareness of self; third is sociocultural pertains to interpersonal, family, societal relationships and cultural traditions; lastly is environmental comfort which pertains to external background of the human experience (Masters, 2015). Comfort care necessitates the practice of comforting actions to meet that desirable outcome. Within this work of art Kolcaba’s contexts were creatively applied. Physical comfort extends throughout the painting from the way the woman holds the child to the end result of the sense of comfort and security. Psychospiritual comfort is expressed in the tones of the colors and how the artist implements her spirituality onto the woman and child. Sociocultural comfort is illustrated by the woman and child whether they were mother and son, grandmother and grandson, nurse to patient, or someone called upon to help another in need. Lastly, the environment throughout the painting, although having many different levels of meaning, is mostly brought focus to the woman and child experiencing relief, ease and transcendence.
Theories provide meaning in everyday life offering various methods and approaches to one’s perspective thus permitting them to be innovative and creative in practices. Exploring and relating the work of art and nursing theory of choice proved to be intricate but in the end it provided intense meaning when approaching the practice from a different standpoint.

References
Masters, K. (2015). Theory of Comfort. In Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice (2.nd ed., pp. 329-339). Burlington, MA: Jones et Bartlett Learning.
Rodgers, B. (2006). Concepts, Analysis and the Development of Nursing Knowledge: The Evolutionary Cycle. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 330-335.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/art