Contribution of Kings Theory to Nursing Research, Practice, Education, and Administration - Essay Example

"Contribution of King’s Theory to Nursing Research, Practice, Education, and Administration" is an engrossing example of a paper on care.
Theories of nursing have played a major role in guiding nursing practice at all levels and in a variety of settings. By providing the necessary guidelines to facilitate the process of care delivery, theories of nursing influence the practice of nursing in a positive way. The fact that nurses have to work with individuals who are extremely vulnerable during times of illness demands that the nurses be prepared mentally for this challenging situation. Theories fill this gap and provide the necessary guidance that is essential for the delivery of care that is in alignment with a pre-defined set of guidelines. Additionally, the contribution of theories to research in nursing has always been contributory, since they serve to provide the frameworks upon which various nursing systems and hence the related research processes are constructed. This prevents the research process from getting diverted towards realms that are unethical or unyielding in nature. Nurses practicing in home health setting also benefit from these theories, since the concept promoted by these theories are applicable in a variety of settings.  In my opinion, Imogene King’s “Theory of Goal Attainment” is in close alignment with my nursing practice, as I am an RN working in Home health settings (King, 1992).

The theory of goal attainment revolves around the notion of achieving goals in a collective fashion. King refers to a nurse-client set as a ‘dyad’. In King’s opinion, the interaction and transaction phase between a nurse and patient involves a series of steps (King, 1997). The interaction starts with an ‘action’ performed by the nurse to which the client ‘reacts’. This initial encounter brings forth a disturbance due to the fact that both participants of this interaction are strangers. The next step is ‘mutual goal-setting’ which involves decision making by the patient. Later, the means to achieve that goal are ‘explored’, which is followed by ‘agreement’. The next step is ‘transaction’ which is manifested by the behavior of the client and the ultimate result of which is ‘goal attainment’ (King, 1990).

King’s theory is a very practical approach to handling situations related to nurse-patient encounters. It provides a means of involving the patient in the care process and in doing so brings forth favorable outcomes for both parties. As far as my practice is concerned, I have always found King’s theory very helpful since it guides the nursing care process in a way that is not only acceptable to the nurse, but also to the client. I have always felt that when patients are involved in the decision-making process regarding their own health, they are more willing to cooperate and hence more compliant with treatment modalities. Interestingly, this approach allows a friendly relationship to flourish between the nurse and the client. I have always felt that patients are the best judge of their condition and they are well aware of their habits, likes, and dislikes. Therefore, the application of King’s theory in my nursing practice has always brought forth ‘transactions’ that have an extremely favorable outcome; not only for me but also for the client.