overview of Kings’ Theory Goal of Attainment
Nursing, as a scientific discipline, is based on professional knowledge. Development of new and different approaches to medicine and nursing practice makes it necessary to acquire adequate knowledge about nursing models or theories. Nursing theory, therefore, refers to a set of definitions, concepts as well as models derived from inductive reasoning and logical thinking. Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment (TGA) is a relationship-based nursing theory based on mutual perceptions of patients and nurses and it facilitates family- and patient-centred care. GTA is a middle-range theory. Studies have shown that most nurses have little knowledge about GTA despite the theory presenting an excellent humanistic platform for making the therapeutic and mutual relationship between clients and nurses (McQueen, Cockroft, & Mullins, 2017). As a result, the use of the theory has diminished in most clinical practice. This paper, therefore, discusses an overview of Kings’ Theory Goal of Attainment, provides evidence supporting its efficacy in nursing practice, and explains how it proves the conceptual model.
The initial introduction of the theory was in 1968 when King wrote in a nursing journal and later extended it in “General concepts of human behaviour.” She defines health as the interaction between human and environment. According to King, the human is an open system with unique wants, motivations, as well as needs that are different for their counterparts (McQueen, Cockroft, & Mullins, 2017). Besides, she notes that wants, motivations, and needs affect health. Moreover, she used four main elements as the bases of her theory. The elements include; first, the functions and goals of a patient and nurse should be in line with each other. Second, an appropriate patient-nurse relationship attains health. Thirdly, a mutual understanding should exist between a nurse and a patient. Finally, every nurse should use all their knowledge to set goals as well as establish a productive relationship.
King’s GTA provides goals and framework for recognition, assessment, and nursing diagnoses that facilitate the delivery of nursing services. The theory is efficacy in nursing practice as it consists of three central systems that include interpersonal, personal, and social networks (Adib-Hajbaghery, & Tahmouresi, 2018). Under the interpersonal system, GTA is created by interacting with two or more individuals in large or small groups. An excellent example of an interpersonal system is the nurse-patient relationship. It necessitates knowing important concepts such as transaction, interaction, communication, stress, stressors, as well as roles. Notably, interaction, which is an important aspect, enhances understanding and communication between the nurse and the client. As such, nurses should have a better understanding of the interaction process. King points out that the interpersonal system is more relevant and beneficial than both social and personal terms.
King considered the personal system as a whole and being unique that always interacts with the environment. As such, nurses should consider every person as a personal system with dimensions of personal space, perception, self-growth and development, coping, body image, as well as learning systems (Adib-Hajbaghery, & Tahmouresi, 2018). The system would significantly contribute to the relationship between nurse and their patient as a perfect perception of self. Besides, it would facilitate perception of time, body image, daily life events, others, as well as enhance interaction with the surroundings. On the other hand, the social system provides a framework for interpersonal communications and social interactions in communities such as organizations, schools, healthcare, and workplace. The system would help nurses in attaining their goals, managing their roles, as well as enable them to acquire a functional status in the public. Power, organization, status, decision-making, among others, are some of the system’s dimensions. Therefore, the use of GTA in clinical practice would reflect the self-knowledge and self-sufficiency of nurses (Williams, 2017). Besides, the theory would promote patient care standards, improve their quality of life, as well as cut healthcare costs. According to King, nurses need to understand how humans interact with the environment.
The theory proves the conceptual model, as demonstrated in the figure below. The conceptual model or system provides an approach to studying a whole system rather than part of the system. Besides, it explains how nurses are expected to organize as wholes to function effectively.