Dr. Katharine Kolcaba
Katharine Kolcaba was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1944.
In 1965, she earned her Nursing diploma from St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing, then graduated from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in 1987. In 1997, Kolcaba earned her Ph.D. in Nursing, and received a Certificate of Authority as a Clinical Nursing Specialist. Her education specialized in Gerontology, End of Life and Long Term Care Interventions, Comfort Studies, Instrument Development, Nursing Theory, and Nursing Research.
The Comfort Theory
Dr. Kolcaba’s theory was deliberated in women with third stage breast cancer undergoing radiation and chemotherapies. Since then she further tested her theory with studies enhancing the comfort of patients undergoing urinary incontinence and those nearing end of life. Her target audiences for her theory are: Gerontological Nursing, HIV/AIDS, Holistic Nursing/Complimentary Therapies, Mental Health Nursing, Nursing Research and Theory, Oncology Nursing/ Malignancies, Palliative and Hospice Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Skilled Nursing/Extended Care and Rehab Nursing, Spiritual Care, Symptom Management.
Nursing Theorists and Their Work by 
