Imogene King: Theory of Goal Attainment

Imogene King (1981) developed the Theory of Goal Attainment from her interacting systems framework. According to Kuhn (1981) Kings Theory of Goal Attainment focuses on the interpersonal system that take place between individuals, specifically in the nurse-patient relationship. Her theory best explains the importance of establishing rapport and good therapeutic communication to promote compliance in the patient and application of quality nursing intervention. From this theory, Nurse must established good interpersonal interaction, particularly nurse patient interaction. According to King I.M. (1981) the theory of goal attainment, which lies at the heart of King's theory of nursing, exists in the context of her conceptual framework. The essence of goal attainment theory is that the nurse and the patient work together to define and reach goals that they set together. The patient and nurse each perceive, judge, and act, and together the patient and nurse react to each other and interact with each other. At the end of this process of communication and perceiving, if a goal has been set a transaction is said to have occurred. The nurse and patient also decide on a way to work toward the goal that has been decided upon, and put into action the plan that has been agreed upon. According to Krieger D. (1982) King believes that the main function of nursing is to increase or to restore the health of the patient, so then; transactions should occur to set goals related to the health of the patient. After transactions have occurred and goals have been defined by the nurse and patient together, both parties work toward the stated goals. This may involve interactions with other systems, such as other healthcare workers, the patient's family, or larger systems. If nurse and client make transaction, goal will be attained If goal are attained, satisfaction will occur If transactions are made in nurse-client interactions, growth & development will be enhanced If role expectations and role performance as perceived by nurse & client are congruent, transaction will occur If role conflict is experienced by nurse or client or both, stress in nurse-client interaction will occur .