ADMINISTRATION
The theory and conceptual model also can apply in
various situations relevant to nursing work and
administration.
Nursing Specialties
A topic that frequently divides nurses is their area
of specialty. However, by using a consistent frame-
work across specialties, nurses would be able to
focus more clearly on their commonalities, rather
than highlighting their differences. A review of the
literature clearly demonstrates that Dr. King’s
framework and related theories have application
within a variety of nursing specialties (see Table
16–11). This application is evident whether one is
reviewing a “traditional” specialty, such as medical-
surgical nursing (Gill et al., 1995; King & Tarsitano,
1982; Porteous & Tyndall, 1994), or in the nontra-
ditional specialties of forensic nursing (Laben,
Dodd, & Sneed, 1991) and/or nursing administra-
tion (Elberson, 1989).
Work Settings
An additional source of division within the nursing
profession is the work sites where nursing is prac-
ticed and care is delivered. As the delivery of health
care moves from the more traditional site of the
acute care hospital to community-based agencies
and clients’ homes, it is important to highlight
commonalities across these settings, and it is im-
portant to identify that King’s framework and
midrange Theory of Goal Attainment continue to
Although many applications tend to be
with nurses and clients in traditional
settings, successful applications have
been shown across other, including
newer and nontraditional, settings.
258 SECTION III Nursing Theory in Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Administration
Messmer
Fitch, Rogers, Ross, Shea, Smith, and Tucker
West
Kemppainen
Kenny
LaFontaine
Levine, Wilson, and Guido
Jonas
Pearson and Vaughan
King
Rosendahl and Ross
Daubenmire, Searles, and Ashton
Coker, Fradley, Harris, Tomarchio, Chan, and Caron
Byrne-Coker, Fradley, Harris, Tomarchio, Chan, and Caron
Byrne and Schreiber
Schreiber
Messmer
Messmer
King and Tarsitano
Scott
Rooke
Norris and Hoyer
Jacono, Hicks, Antontoni, O’Brien, and Rasi
Woods
Zurakowski*
Rundell
1992
1991
1991
1990
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1984
1982
1978
1995
1990
1989
1991
1995
1995
1982
1998
1995
1994
1990
1994
1991
1991
Table 16–10 Application within Nursing Work Settings (Continued)
TOPIC AUTHOR(S) YEAR
Hospitals (continued)
Hospitals, community
Hospitals, public
Hospitals, urban
Intensive care units
Nursing homes
Step-down units
*Indicates thesis or dissertation