IMOGENE KING THEORY

Background of theorist

• She earned diploma in nursing from St. John hospital in 1945.

• After she worked as nursing officer, staff nurse and private duty nurse .

• She received bachelor degree in nursing from St. Louis university.

• She has been a member of American nurses association, Florida.

• Her first book “toward nursing theory” published in 1971.

PARADIGM

Nursing

• Nursing is a process of action, reaction, interaction, and transaction where by nurses

assist individuals of any age and socioeconomic group to meet their basic need.

Person

• Person is bio- psychosocial being.

• According to her individual have right to knowledge about themselves, a right to

participate in decision of their life, health and community services.

Health

• Health is dynamic state.

• The illness is an interference in the continuation of the life cycle.

• The individual internal environment are organ, cells, hormones.

• The individual external environment consist of air, pollutants, foods.

Environment

• She states that an understanding of the ways that human beings interact with their
environment to maintain health is essential for nurses.

Major concepts

King’s theory of goal attainment resulted in a means for analysing interactions. The major
concept in the theory of goal attainment are interaction, perception, communication,
transaction, role, stress, growth and decry and time and space.

Interaction - King define interaction as “ a process of perception and communication

between person and environment and between person to person , represented by verbal
and non verbal behaviours that are goal directed”.

Perception - perception was defined as “ each person’s representation of reality”.

According to this concept includes the important and transformation of energy and
processing, storing and exporting information. Perception is related to past experiences,
concepts of self, socioeconomic groups and educational background.

Communication- communication was defined as “a process whereby information is given

from one person to another person either directly or in directly. The exchange of verbal
and non verbal signs and symbols between nurse and client.

Transaction- transaction are defined as “purposeful interactions that lead to goal

attainment”. Transaction is also observable behaviour of patients.

Role- role is defined as “ a set of behaviours expects of persons occupying a position in a

social system”. This defines rights and obligation in a position. If role conflicts and
confusion exist this may lead to decreased effectiveness of nursing care.

Stress- stress is “ a dynamic whereby a human being interacts will the environment”.
Stress involves an exchange of energy and control of stressors. An increase stress may
also affect the nursing care.

Growth and development- King define growth and development as “ continuous change
in individual at the cellular, molecular and behavioural level of activities that move the
individual towards maturity.

Time - “ time is a sequence if events moving onward to the future.

Space - space is defined as existing in all directions and is the same every where. Space
is the immediate environment in which nurse and client interact.

King’s theory of goal attainment focus on interpersonal system and interaction that take
place between individual and nurse. The relationship between King’s concepts are
interaction process.

Conceptual framework

The purpose of conceptual framework are to organise concepts that represent essential
knowledge that might be used to construct theories . This includes goal , structure,
function and decision making .

In this conceptual framework is composed of three interacting system -

- the personal system

- The interpersonal system

- The social system

1. Personal system- This represents individual. In this relevant concept, perception, self
growth, body image , learning and time .

2. Interpersonal system - These are formed by human beings interacting. This include
communication, transaction, roles and stress.

3. Social system- A social system is defined as an organised boundary system of social

roles, behaviours and practices developed to maintain value. This include families,
religious , groups and educational system, peer groups.

This above diagram depict that the nurse and person interact towards goal attainment.

Application of theory in nursing process

Situation - A young college student who had traumatic amputation of his leg due to
major vehicle accident. He is suffering with severe pain and unable to receive or send
communication . He is also depressed due to his traumatic loss of left limb.

Assessment

Nurse should take account of patient’s feeling in regard to perception, self , body image,
growth and development. Disturbance in perception due to bodily injuries or traumatic
amputation of his left leg.

Nursing diagnosis

1. Impaired verbal communication related to pain.

2. Disturbed body image related to traumatic amputation of a lower limb.

3. Social isolation related to reduced ability .

4. Anxiety related to immorality.

Planning

Improving social interaction and promoting a therapeutic relationship where patient can
verbalise.

Implementation

1. Assisting the patient in coping with the feelings of loss, separation and anger that he
was experiencing.

2. Attempting to restore patient’s self esteem .

Evaluation

Initially, his perceptual field was narrowed because of his pain. After the nurse
reassurance and support , his interaction with the nurse was improved.