untitled

system (Sieloff, 1995b), health of systems (Winker,
1995), and space (Rooke, 1995b). Table 16–2 fur-
ther details applications related to concept develop-
ment within King’s framework (1981).

Theory of Goal Attainment

Dr. King’s work is unique in that, in addition to
the Interacting Systems Framework, she developed
the midrange Theory of Goal Attainment (1981)
from concepts within the Interacting Systems
Framework.

PRACTICE

This midrange theory has found great application
to nursing practice, since the theory focuses on
concepts relevant to all nursing situations—the at-
tainment of client goals. The application of the
midrange Theory of Goal Attainment (King, 1981)
is documented in several categories: (1) general ap-
plication of the theory, (2) exploring a particular
concept within the context of the Theory of Goal
Attainment, (3) exploring a particular concept re-
lated to the Theory of Goal Attainment, and (4)
application of the theory in nonclinical nursing
situations. For example, King (1997) described the

use of the Theory of Goal Attainment in nursing

practice. Alligood (1995) applied the theory to

orthopedic nursing with adults. Short-term group

psychotherapy was the focus of theory application

for Laben, Sneed, and Seidel (1995). In contrast,

Benedict and Frey (1995) examined the use of the

theory within the delivery of emergency care.

The midrange Theory of Goal Attainment

(King, 1981) is also used when nurses wish to ex-

plore a particular concept within a theoretical con-

text. Temple and Fawdry (1992) examined caregiver

role strain while perceptual congruency between

nurses and clients was explored by Froman (1995).

Nurses also use the Theory of Goal Attainment

(King, 1981) to examine concepts related to the

theory. This application was demonstrated by

Kameoka (1995) as she analyzed nurse-patient in-

teractions in Japan.

Finally, the theory has been applied in nonclini-

cal nursing situations. Messmer (1995) used the

theory in implementing theory-based nursing

practice. And Jolly and Winker (1995) applied the

theory to organizations. In summary, Table 16–3

chronicles applications of King’s midrange Theory

of Goal Attainment.

Nursing Process and Related Languages

Within the nursing profession, the nursing pro-

cess has consistently been used as the basis for

nursing practice. King’s framework and midrange

Theory of Goal Attainment have been linked to

the process of nursing. Although many published

applications have broad reference to the nursing

process, several deserve special recognition. First,

Dr. King herself (1981) clearly linked the Theory of

Goal Attainment to nursing process as theory and

to nursing process as method. Application of King’s

work to nursing curricula further strengthened this

link. Other explicit examples of integration with

the nursing process are those by Woods (1994), and

Frey and Norris (1997). Additionally, Frey and

Norris also drew parallels between the processes of

critical thinking, nursing, and transaction.

In addition, over time, nursing has developed

standardized nursing languages (SNL) that are used

to assist the profession to improve communication

both within, and external to, the profession. These

languages include the Nursing Diagnoses, Nursing

Interventions, and Nursing Outcomes. Although

these languages were developed after many of the

original nursing theorists had completed their

246 SECTION III Nursing Theory in Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Administration

Table 16–2 Concept Development

within the Framework

TOPIC AUTHOR(S) YEAR

Advocacy

Autonomy

Coping

Empathy

Health

Health (social system)

Health (systems)

Power

Quality of life

Social support

Space

Transaction

*Indicates thesis or dissertation

Bramlett, Gueldner,

and Sowell

Glenn*

King

Alligood, Evans, and

Wilt

King

Sieloff

Winker

Hawkes

King

Frey

Rooke

Binder*

1990

1989

1983

1995

1990

1995

1995

1991

1993

1989

1995

1992