Diploma, St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing, 1965; RN/MSN Case Western Reserve University, 1987; PhD. Nursing Case Western Reserve University, 1997.

• 2006 Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Omega Chapter,  Researcher of the Year with Dr. Therese Dowd

• 2005  Mary Hanna Journalism Second Place Award in the Best Practice Category by American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses, in recognition of the article by Wilson, L. & Kolcaba, K. (2004). Practical application of Comfort Theory in the perianesthesia setting. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. 19(3), 164-173.  (Invited article)

• Excellence in the Utilization of Nursing Research, award from Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Omega Chapter, May, 2003.

• 2002 Mary Hanna Memorial Journalism Award for American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses, March, 2003, in recognition of the article entitled Comfort Care for Perianesthesia Nursing by Kolcaba and Wilson (2002).

• Advancement of Science Award from Midwest Nursing Research Society, End of Life and Palliative Care Nursing, March, 2003.

• Links2Go Key Resource Award (1999) for The Comfort Line. 2nd place among all nursing theory pages.

• Hartford Institute and American Association of Colleges of Nursisng (AACN) 3rd annual award for excellence in Baccalaureate Gerontology Curriculum (leader of Nursing Care of Older Adults, where most of the innovations were housed).

• Marie Haug Student Award, excellence in aging studies, from Case Western Reserve University, January, 1997.

• Invited Research Consultant, comfort studies & theory, MNRS, April, 1997.

• LM Hiemenz & LC Perry Memorial Scholarship, tuition support, American Nurses' Association, 1996-97.

• Honor a Researcher Award, MNRS, 1997.

• Lillian DeYoung Research Award, outstanding research development, and Chapter Research Grant for completion of dissertation study, Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Omega Chapter, 1995.

• Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Health, Case Western Reserve University Internal Grant, 1991-92.

• Who's Who in American Nursing, 1994-present.

• Cushing Robb Prize, outstanding work in MSN program, Case Western Reserve University, 1987.

Associate Professor, Emeritus Status, The University of Akron College of Nursing. For 6 years I designed, updated, and taught Nursing Care of Older Adults, a baccalaureate course utilizing ACE (Acute Care for Elders) Principles and Comfort Theory (see references below). This course was instrumental in our college winning the 1999 Excellence in Gerontologic Baccalaureate Nursing Education from The Hartford Institute and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. I also taught graduate courses, Inquiry I and Inquiry II (both research courses), Nursing Theory, and Domains of Nursing Knowledge, a PhD. course.

• Palmer, R., Landefeld, S., Kresevic, D., & Kowal, J. (1994). A medical unit for the acute care of the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 42, 545-552.

• Kolcaba, K. (1995). The art of comfort care. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 27, Number 4, Winter, 287-289.

• Panno, J., Kolcaba, K., & Holder, C. (2000). Acute Care for Elders: A holistic model for geriatric nursing care. Orthopaedic Nursing, 19(6), 53-60.

Gerontology, End of Life and Long Term Care Interventions, Comfort Studies, Instrument Development, Nursing Theory, Nursing Research, Magnet Status, and Enhancing the Work
Environment for Nurses (see JONA article under references).

The Comfort Line is my web site, with many new features. There are references to all comfort articles, and some are downloadable. Also, my first book was published in Jan. 2003 by Springer. It's title is Comfort Theory and Practice. Click here for details on how to order your copy ($37.50, soft-cover). Look for the book icon at the top of the home page.

I am on the Board of Elderlife, a community outreach and support network for elders in my larger community. This activity led to my developing and coordinating a chapter of Parish Nursing serving the same population. My professional organizations, since retirement from full time teaching, are ANA and STT.

I love working with students and researchers through their contacts to me via the web. I hope to expand my consulting business with Colleges of Nursing and various health care institutions. With colleagues at The University of Akron, I continue to design comfort studies in various arenas: instrument development and testing, and testing of comfort theory in different settings and with different theoretical questions. I think the Magnet Status initiative demonstrates a true marriage between theory and practice.

For relaxation, I love to garden, do amateur photography, and read. I try to walk or work out every day (my efforts towards healthy aging). I cheer on the Cleveland Indians, the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the Akron Zips. I try to visit my eight grandchildren (and my two daughters, sons-in-law, and mother) in Chagrin Falls (where I live in Ohio) and a daughter and son-in-law in Chicago. In addition, my philosopher-husband completes my life and has assisted me in countless ways over the years with my study of comfort.

And for those of you who need to ask (for an assignment perhaps?), my birthday is 12/28/44 and my maiden name is Arnold. I don't eat many desserts but I love home made fresh bread!!

Thank you for visiting this home page. Please click on The Comfort Line for more information about COMFORT

Kathy