this presentation is help for the first year G.M.N OR B.Sc. Nursing student regarding the information regarding the comfort devices that can help the patient for their recovery or the help to provide proper device that can be used in the hospital as well home care of the patient.

1. COMFORT SLEEP &
COMFORT DEVICES
BY: MS. RINKAL PATEL

2. INTRODUCTION
 Comfort is concerned with rest, with the relation of
one part of the body to another, with the bed & the
whole environment.
 Comfort is a every procedure as it is an aspect of
the total care of patient.
 Comfort device are invented articles which would
add to comfort of patient when used in appropriate
manner.

3.  These devices relive the discomfort & help in
maintaining correct posture.
 Various comfort devices are used fro giving
comfort to the patient, such as: pillow, back rest,
foot rest, bed block, bed cradles, sand bags, air
cushion, rubber & cotton rings, air & water matters
& knee rest.

4. COMFORT MEASURES

5. DEFINITION
 Comfort is a state of free from pain & discomfort
tension & anxiety.
 Comfort is defined as the contented enjoyment in
physical or mental well-being freedom from pain or
trouble.
 Discomfort is defined as want of comfort or ease
due to pain or annoyance.

6.  Comfort devices are the mechanical devices to
promote comfort to the patient.
 Comfort devices are invented articles which would
add to the comfort of the patient when used in the
appropriate manner, by reliving the discomfort &
helping to maintain correct posture.

7. PURPOSE
 To promote comfort.
 To prevent discomfort.
 To alleviate discomfort.
 To ensure that the patient has rest.
 To assist the patient to obtain an adequate sleep to
meet his requirement.
 To maintain correct posture.

8. PRINCIPLES RELEVANT TO
COMFORT
 Definite periods of sleep are an essential
component of the circadian rhythm in human being.
 Adequate amounts of sleep are needed for optimal
physical & psychological functioning of the
individual.
 Individual needs for sleep vary with age, growth
patterns, health status & individual differences.

9.  Lack of sufficient sleep impairs a person’s physical
functioning, his mental alertness & his social
relationship.
 Individual habits vary with regard to beds time rituals.
 Sleep pattern may be disturbed by changes in person’s
normal daily living patterns by social & emotional
problems by physical problems & by minor irritation or
discomforts.
 Sleeps at times are almost invariable disturbed by
illness.

10. Factors affecting comfort
 Pain
 Restriction of movements due to weakness.
 Wrinkled soiled & wet sheets.
 Delayed or inadequate attention to meet the personal needs.
 Lack of exercise.
 Temperature extremes.
 Too bright lights and glares.
 Fear & anxiety due to illness.
 Insecurity feeling.
 Lack of sleep.
 Uncomfortable position.
 Indigestion & irregular bowel movements.

11. Causes of discomfort
 Pain
 Restriction of movements due to weakness.
 Wrinkled soiled & wet sheets.
 Delayed or inadequate attention to meet the personal needs.
 Lack of exercise.
 Temperature extremes.
 Too bright lights and glares.
 Fear & anxiety due to illness.
 Insecurity feeling.
 Lack of sleep.
 Uncomfortable position.
 Indigestion & irregular bowel movements.

12. Factors promoting physical comfort
 Immediate Needs
 Morning care.
 Evening care.
 Bedtime care.

13. COMFORT DEVICES
 Pillows.
 Back rest.
 Rolls.
 Sand bags.
 Air & water matters.
 Rings.
 Bed cradles.
 Bed blocks.
 Air cushion.

14. Pillow
 Pillows are used to
given comfortable
position to the patient.
These are most
commonly used to
support various body
parts.

15. Purpose
 To maintain proper body alignment.
 To support body part in good alignment.
 Help to reduce pressure.
 It can be folded, rolled or tucked firmly against the
body to maintain position.
 It is used to support head, neck, arm legs & part of
the back adds to the physical comfort.

16. Beck rest
 Back rest is a
mechanical device
which provides a
suitable support & rest
for the back of the
patient in sitting
position.

17. Purpose
 To supports back.
 To facilities easy breathing .
 It is given especially for heart patients & asthma
patients.
 This position’s used in postoperative period.

18. Rolls
 Hand rolls are made of
cloth that rolled in t
cylinder’ about four to
five inches long & two
to three inches in
diameter & stuffed
firmly.

19. Purpose
 There are used to keep the fingers from being held in a
tight fist leading to flexion contracture in patients who
are unable to move hands due to paralysis, injury or
disease.
 Thigh rolls are made by folding a sheet to desired
length of two three feet & then rolled into a tight
cylinder.
 Thing rolls are used to support hips & thighs
preventing them from outward rotation & keeping the
feet in good alignment incase of paralysis, fracture of
femur of hip surgery.

20. Foot rest
 Foot rests are the
mechanical device used
to given rest of foot.
Sand bags or foot board
may be substituted.

21. Purpose
 It helps to maintain the normal position of feet.
 It is used for the comfort.
 To prevent foot drop.

22. Sand bags
 Sand bags are canvas,
rubber or plastic bags
filled with sand and are
1, 5, & 10 lbs in weight.
 Sand bags are used to
immobilize a part.

23. Purpose
 To relive discomfort.
 Used to support the body part.
 Used to immobilized the body part.
 Used to support as in fracture bones.
 To prevent foot drop or wrist drop.

24. Air & Water Mattresses
 Air & water mattresses
are used for very thin or
obese patients & those
who are prone to get
pressure sores.
 The principles is that
pressure exerted by the
body, will be distributed
equally in all direction.

25.  Air & water mattresses are plastic mattresses with
two sets of chambers.
 To use them place the mattress on the bed & fill air
or water in the compartment.
 Cover the mattress with light bottom clothes.

26. Purpose
 To improve circulation.
 To provide comfort.
 To prevent pressure sore.
 Used in very thin or obese patients.
 Used in chronic bed ridden patients.

27. Caution
 Avoid punctures in the mattress with needles, pins
or other sharp object.

28. Rings
 Air rings are made of
rubber.
 The air ring is inflated
about half full tested for
leakage, cover & the
placed under the
patient’s hip in such a
way that the value is on
one side & not in contact
with body.

29.  Cotton rings are made wrapped with bandage.
 These are placed under the bony prominences such
as heels & fastened in place if necessary.

30. Purpose
 Used to lift the hip from bed to prevent bed sore.
 It helps to prevent direct pressure of on bony
prominences.
 It improves the circulation.

31. Bed cradles
 Bed cradles vary widely
in size & in material.
 Bed cradles are of
wooden, metal or
electronic.
 The bed cradles support &
take off the weight of the
bedding.
 Bed cradle are
semicircular in shape
made of wood/ metal/
entirely made of metal
tubing or slats.

32. Purpose
 Used to prevent the top cloth is coming in contact
with the patients especially in burns patients.
 To apply heat in case of dying plaster casts.
 Electronic bed cradles are used to supply the
desired warm in the case of shock.

33. Bed blocks
 Bed blocks are made up
of wood size, may be
high or low.
 These are placed under
the foot of bed for
various reasons.

34. Purpose
 To prevent shock.
 To arrest hemorrhage.
 To retain enema.
 After spinal anesthesia.
 After tonsillectomy.
 To provide traction.
 To position in postural drainage.

35. Air cushion
 Air cushions are round in
shape & made up of
rubber.
 These can be inflated
with air.
 These are used to take off
weight of the body.
 Air cushion should not be
applied directly in
contact with skin. They
should have a cover.

36. Purpose
 To relive pressure on certain parts of the body.
 It provides relaxation as it yields to shift off body
weight & it relieves on certain parts of body.

37. Hot water bags
 A water bag is a made
up of leather, canvas or
other materials, which
are used for giving hot
application.

38. Purpose
 To reduce inflammation.
 To relive pain.
 To promote healing.
 To provide warmth to the body.

39. Causation
 Always cover the hot water bag with cloth, as
direct application can cause burn.

40. Ice bag
 Ice pack are used to
apply cryotherapy.
 These are plastic packs
filled with ice cubes.

41. Purpose
 To relive the pain from sprains, stains & soft tissue
injuries.
 To reduce inflammation.
 Cryotherapy work by reducing blood flow to
particulate area.
 Decreased blood supply reduces inflammation &
thus relieves pain caused by swelling &
inflammation.

42. Slide rails
 Side rails are the bars
positioned along the
sides of the length of the
beds.

43. Purpose
 Side rails ensure patient’s safety & useful for
increasing patient’s mobility in bed.
 It provides assistance to patient in rolling from side
to side or sitting up in bed.
 It is the prime responsibility of the nurses to ensure
raising side rails of disoriented, unconscious &
pediatric patients to prevent falls.

44. Foot end elevator
 It is a platform or an
enclosure raised &
lowered in vertical shaft
to provide elevated
support for feet &
ankles.
 It is ideal for
postoperative &
rehabilitation.

45. Knee rest
 This is a device placed
under the knees to
provide comfort.
 Knee rest provide
relaxation & thus relives
pain on tendons beneath
the knees

46. Wedge/Abductor Pillow
 Wedge or abductor
pillow is a special
triangular shaped pillow
made of heavy foam.
 It is used to maintain
legs in abduction
following total hip
replacement surgery.

47. Hand & wrist splints
 Hand & wrist splints
are splints individually
molded for the patient
to maintain proper
thumb in slight
adduction & wrist in
slight dorsiflexion.
 These splints should
be used only for the
patient whom the
splint was made for
comfort.