Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment in Nursing
This paper examines Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment as a foundational nursing framework. It traces the theory's origins in Von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory and outlines its three interacting systems: personal, interpersonal, and social. The paper presents a schematic model illustrating nurse–patient transactions and explains how the theory's core propositions—mutual goal setting, perception, communication, and transaction—align with each stage of the nursing process. The discussion also addresses how the theory informs prevailing nursing values, attitudes, and roles, from initial assessment through evaluation of patient outcomes.
- Introduction: Overview of King's theory and core assumptions
- Nursing Theory and Its Evolution: Three systems model and theoretical origins
- Schematic Model of Goal Attainment: Visual model of nurse-patient transaction process
- Values, Attitudes, and Roles in Nursing Practice: Theory applied to five-stage nursing process
- Conclusion: Summary of theory's ongoing clinical relevance
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What makes this paper effective
- It situates King's theory within a broader intellectual lineage by tracing its origins to Von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, giving the analysis historical depth.
- The schematic model section concretely illustrates abstract concepts such as perception, transaction, and mutual goal setting, making the theory accessible to readers new to nursing frameworks.
- The paper methodically connects theoretical propositions to each stage of the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation), demonstrating practical applicability.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper uses concept mapping — moving from abstract theoretical assumptions to a visual schematic model and then to a step-by-step application — to demonstrate how a nursing theory translates into clinical practice. This technique shows readers not just what the theory claims but how it functions in real nursing workflows.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with an introduction to King's theory and its core assumptions, then traces its theoretical evolution. A schematic model section translates the theory into a visual format with accompanying propositions. The final substantive section maps the theory onto nursing values and the five-stage nursing process. The structure moves logically from theory origins → visual representation → practical application.
Introduction
Nursing has experienced a great deal of evolution as not only a profession but also as a science. In the course of this development, nursing theories have illuminated, examined, and delineated particular areas of practice. The nursing theory considered in this paper is Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment. One of the basic assumptions of this nursing theory is that human beings are fundamentally open systems in constant interaction with their environment. Therefore, each individual has a right to self-knowledge and to participate in decisions that affect their health and life.
Another key assumption of the theory is that the nurse and the patient communicate and exchange information, set goals together, and subsequently engage in actions to attain those goals. Nursing is perceived as an interpersonal process of action, reaction, interrelation, and transaction. Health is regarded as a dynamic state within the life cycle, and illness is considered an interference with the continuity of that cycle (Messmer, 2006).
Nursing Theory and Its Evolution
The Goal Attainment Theory is distinctive and was developed by Imogene King to define a relational and dynamic relationship directed at accomplishing patients' life objectives — making it a vital framework for development in nursing education and practice. This model includes three interacting systems. First, there is the personal system, which comprises growth and development, perception, body image, time, and space. Second, there is the interpersonal system, which comprises communication, relationships, transaction, stress, and roles. Third, there is the social system, which comprises organization, authority, power, decision-making, and status.
The central point of King's theory is that the goal of nursing is human care. The Goal Attainment Theory is considered to have evolved from Von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory. The fundamental components of the latter included goal, structure, resources, functions, and decision-making. This theory held that a system is a complex of interacting elements that are exposed to and interact with their environments (Fawcett, 2001).
Schematic Model of Goal Attainment
A schematic model provides a visual depiction of nursing concepts and illustrates the relationships among those concepts. The following framework represents King's theory of goal attainment: the nurse and patient each bring their own perceptions to the interaction. Through communication, they explore means, identify disturbances, and react to one another. This process of interaction leads to mutual goal setting, agreement on the means to achieve those goals, and ultimately to purposeful action and transaction.
The core propositions of the theory state that when there is accuracy in perceptual interaction between nurse and client, a transaction will occur. When both parties achieve a transaction, the goal will be met, leading to satisfaction. Furthermore, successful transactions promote growth and development in both the nurse and the patient. One factor that adversely affects the transaction process is role conflict, which generates stress in the nurse–client relationship. Conversely, when a nurse with specialized knowledge communicates effectively and provides appropriate information, mutual goal setting and goal attainment both follow naturally.
Conclusion
Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment remains a vital framework for nursing practice, emphasizing that effective care depends on meaningful nurse–patient communication, shared decision-making, and the collaborative pursuit of health goals. By integrating the personal, interpersonal, and social systems into a unified model, King's theory provides nurses with a structured yet flexible approach to delivering patient-centered care across the full continuum of the nursing process.
References
Fawcett, J. (2001). The nurse theorists: 21st century updates — Imogene M. King. Nursing Science Quarterly, 14(4), 311–315.
Messmer, P. R. (2006). Professional model of care: Using King's theory of goal attainment. Nursing Science Quarterly, 19(3), 227–229.
Wayne, G. R. (2014). Imogene M. King's Theory of Goal Attainment. Nurse Labs.
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