King’s General Systems Framework
Type/Purpose: CM -> Grand Theory -> Mid-Range (Goal Attainment Theory)/why do we do things? Philosophical Claims: Reciprocal Interaction
Context: Metaparadigm (Concepts)
- Human Beings: Holistic open systems (perceptions) represented by personal Sys., interpersonal Sys., and social systems.
- Environment: NOT DEFINED; internal and external are sources of stress. 3 systems interact with the environment and exchange matter, info, ENERGY.
- Health: Function ability and health occurs with groups. 8 features; genetics, subjective, relative, dynamic, environmental, culture, perception. Illness is deviation from norm, imbalance not just physiological.
- Nursing: Represented as a process of action, reaction, and interaction r/t a goal of achieving the maximum potential for daily living.
GOAL OF NURSING: assist individual groups, society to attain, maintain, and restore health – for individuals this is the ability to function in social roles. CONTENT OF THE MODEL:
Personal Systems (INDIVIDUALS) 7 Dimensions
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- Perception: self-awareness, your own representation of reality and involves; input of the environment, the transformation of energy, processing information, storing of information, and export of information as behavior
- Self: composed of thoughts, desires, imaginations, and awareness
- Growth & Dev: genetic experiences, molecular and behavior changes
- Body Image: your appearance
- Time: interval btw. past, present, and future; life, stress, and recovery
- Personal Space: territory and boundaries to orientate to your environment and space
- Learning: critical thinking, self-activities, conceptualizing based on in/outputs
Interpersonal Systems (SMALL GROUPS; PEERS) 6 Dimensions:
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- Interaction: judgments, goal-directed communications, simultaneous perceptions
- Communication: all behavior,2 subdivisions; verbal/nonverbal (symbols, gestures, touch, the use/defense of space) that express goals and values
- Transaction: observable behaviors and interaction of valued goals
- Role: expected position and obligations, a relationship in a specific situation
- Stress: dynamic state of a person’s interaction with the environment, either positive or negative
- Coping: r/t coping with stress/stressors (NOT DEFINED)
Social systems (groups formed to achieve a specific purpose; family, school, hospital, business) 6 dimensions:
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- Organization: prescribed roles/positions, using resources to accomplish goals
- Authority: reciprocal interactions to define/validate/accept the authority of individuals
- Power: to resolve or influence situations
- Status: the position of an individual compared to others, applied concepts
- Decision making: the goal-directed process, the choice is made to answer a question or attain a goal
- Control: power/authority (NOT DEFINED)
The Nursing Process with King’s Theory
ASSESSMENT (collect data)
- Perception: the nurse and client meet in some nursing situation and perceive each other
- Judgment: the nurse and client make mental judgments about each other (or health/abnormality)
- Action: behaviors and mental activities to improve health or attain goals
- Reaction: the nurse and client mentally react to each one’s perceptions of the other
DIAGNOSIS
- Disturbance Phase: Interaction btw nurse and client, the nurse identifies the client’s concerns, problems, and disturbances in health -obtains a medical/physical examination, lab work
PLANNING
- Mutual Goal Setting: the agreed goals based on the nurse’s assessment, has ethical considerations
- Exploration of Means to Achieve Goals: to explore the means to achieve mutually set goals
- Agreement on Means to Achieve Goals: to interact purposefully to agree on the means to achieve mutually set goals
IMPLEMENTATION
- Transaction: the behaviors carried out to achieve the mutually agreed goals
EVALUATION
- Attainment of Goals: expressed in terms of the client’s state of health or ability to perform/function in social roles. Did they (not) obtain the goal? Examples of goals: dietary management & exercise, maintaining a controlled blood sugar. Application is r/t people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Additional Information & References
- Historical Background information and Application by Nurse Key
- Imogene King’s Goal Attainment (more details)
- An outline of King’s Goal Attainment by Nurse Labs