CHAPTER

16

235

Imogene M. King

PART ONE: Imogene M. King’s

Theory of Goal Attainment

Imogene M. King

Introducing the Theorist

Introducing the Theory

Use of King’s Conceptual System and Theory

Summary

Introducing the Theorist

My postsecondary education experiences included
a diploma in nursing from St. John’s Hospital
School of Nursing in St. Louis, baccalaureate and
master’s degrees in nursing from St. Louis Univer-
sity, and a doctor of education from Teachers
College, Columbia University, New York. Postdoc-
toral study included work in advanced statistics,
systems research, and computers. Continuing
education is an ongoing process. My avocation in-
cludes nursing history in the context of world
history, and philosophy with emphasis on science
and ethics.
The majority of my nursing experience, which
spans over 50 years, included clinical practice of

nursing adults in hospitals. While working my way

through college, I worked in a physician’s office as a

school nurse and as an occupational health nurse. I

have always believed that as a teacher one must also

be an excellent practitioner, so my experience as a

teacher of nursing at undergraduate and graduate

levels included practice. I taught at Loyola Univer-

sity, Chicago; the Ohio State University; and the

University of South Florida, advancing from assis-

tant professor to full professor and now as profes-

sor emeritus.

I have received multiple honors and awards. The

most recent are the Jessie Scott Award for Leader-

ship, presented by the American Nurses’ Associa-

tion at the 100th anniversary convention in 1996,

and an honorary doctor of science degree in 1998.