Nursing theory, research, and practice Scenario in which theory, research, and practice interact to create good patient outcomes

Imogene King’s theory

Functional Status

Nurse-Patient Relationship

Using the Imogene King’s theory to enhance Nurse-Patient Relationship

Enhanced Patient care

narrative explanation of your visual representation following the diagram.

Nursing theories have been developed as a way of trying to explain the fundamental importance of clinical practice (INSCOL, 2014). Even though these theories are used to guide practice, it is true to claim that most of them have not been put to the test as a way of determining whether the proposed nursing actions produce the claimed effects. If nursing asserts itself as the professional practice it is a professional practice environment must be supported and practiced. In order to enhance the outcome of patients and nursing staff then the professional nursing practice must be supported (INSCOL, 2014). There exist several nursing theories and conceptual models providing a basis on which clinical practice can be anchored. Among the nursing theories is the Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment.

In the diagram the theory-practice relationship demonstrates the significance of the Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment in helping nurse practitioners to cultivate a stronger Nurse-Patient Relationship for better clinical outcomes. As stated by Caceres (2015) the nursing theory avails a nursing schema for the interested nurse practitioner to help them enhance their functional status. This said though there exists a gap in that there is no universal definition for what functional status really means and this has derailed the development of solid comprehension of the theoretical phenomenon. Functional status has some significance for the nurses concerned with wellbeing and safety of their clients/patients. With the increased attention paid to patient and family care it has become important for the cultivation of innovative ways of examining functional status which incorporates the perspectives of the patient and the family. The ability to mutually make decisions between the nurse, patient and family has been an underutilized...

The theories help in guiding practice in ways such as helping in organization of data, help in understanding and analyzing patient data, as well as assisting in the making of sound decisions with respect to interventions made by the nurse (INSCOL, 2014). The Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment is applicable in nursing practice in many ways. The theory is fundamental in helping nurse practitioners to make sound judgment with regards to choosing the appropriate action, reaction, intervention, and transaction that would help make a patient’s health and hospital stay more manageable and comfortable as well as helping them recover faster from their physical and emotional dilemma.
Scenario in which theory, research, and practice interact

A good scenario in which theory, research and practice interact would be where a nurse is faced with a situation in the Antenatal Orthopedic care unit. A nurse practitioner serving in the orthopedic care unit is faced with a situation where a 25 year old pregnant woman who looks quite healthy and comfortable visits the examination room and begins an interaction with the nurse. In the cause of the interaction the nurse discovers that the lady is married and has since gained 10 pounds. The pregnant lady has also moved into a new neighborhood. From the interaction with the nurse it can be deduced that the lady views herself as healthy. The nurse discovers that the lady is an employed teacher and she plans to continue with her job even after delivery. The lady is quite naïve on matters labor processes. She thinks that the pregnancy is proceeding normally although she had some nausea which quickly subsided.

With this information the nurse is in a position to apply the Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment in assisting the patient to set appropriate health goals and coming up with a step by step roadmap to helping her achieve the set goals. The theory pays attention to the process that will help strengthen the relationship between the nurse and the patient therefore helping the patient to achieve the set goals for the betterment of…