Nursing Theory - Term Paper Example

This essay discusses that King’s theory of goal attainment emphasizes upon the objectives which influence the relationship between a patient and a nurse. The underlying assumption on which this theory is based is that both the patient and the nurse interact with each other in the capacity of human beings. The two are open systems each of which intermingles with the environment as well. The theory of goal attainment is a systems model type of theory whose conceptual framework was retrieved from three fundamental systems of dynamic interaction, namely the social, interpersonal and personal interacting system.

Because of its tendency to impact the behavior, perception is given extreme importance in the personal system. The reaction of groups or individuals gave rise to the interpersonal systems. King’s theory of goal attainment is quite relevant and applicable today. This theory highlights some key facts that are intuitively known by both the nurse and the patient. Interpersonal communication between the nurse and the patient is crucial for favorable results of the nursing practice. This theory analyzes the relationship between the nurse and the patient on three levels of social, interpersonal and personal interaction.

The three jointly describe the interaction completely. Although the contemporary age is characterized by digital technology, which is frequently made use of by the nurse to interact with the patient, though the variables discussed in the King’s theory apply just as well as they do in verbal communication. The Division of Nursing is directed at providing the nursing care recipients with high quality of health care. Faculty achieves this through their research, teaching and community’s service.

Nurses create their individualistic stance upon the health and life using a wide array of interpersonal relationships. The integration of intellectual, spiritual, physical and cultural elements facilitates this process. Both nurse and the patient are influenced both externally and internally by a myriad of physical, social and biological components of the environment. Health is the name of an individual’s social, physical and spiritual well being. Nursing, on the other hand, is a field in which the professional counsels the patient in such a way that his/her health is restored.

The most fundamental element of nursing is the care of patients. In order to facilitate optimal well being of the patient, the nurse works in an independent setting, though the environmental factors do govern the attitudes of both the nurse and the patient. King’s theory of goal attainment compares well with the philosophy of the Division of Nursing in that both acknowledge the significance of environmental factors upon the interaction between the nurse and the patient. Nevertheless, King’s theory places more emphasis upon the personal system while depicting the behavior of either of the two parties involved in the process whereas the Division of Nursing makes a generic approach towards it by giving equal importance to each of the several components constituting the environment.

My personal theory of nursing is that nurses maintain a caring relationship with the patients, irrespective of the theories of nursing. Nurses know their work. Nevertheless, their practice is consistent with the theories of nursing in general, and King’s theory of goal attainment in particular. I believe that factors affecting a nurse’s behavior and perceptions about the patient vary from one nurse to another. This is, to much an extent, an outcome of the way an individual thinks and the ideology of an individual.

Since people vary in their opinions and ideologies, it is not quite reasonable to standardize the personal interacting system as the fundamental determinant of a nurse’s perceptions. King’s theory of goal attainment is relevant across the span of nursing practices because it tends to explain some of the most fundamental concepts involved in the practice. As I said, I believe that one formula does not work for every individual because an