Imogene King's KCS: Open Systems Theory for Nurses - Essay Sample

Imogene king developed King's conceptualized system theory (KCS) during the early 1960s. It is also widely known as the open systems theory, the general systems framework, or the interacting system's framework. The above system theory entails the progressing ability of people to meet their everyday needs so that ultimately these people may work well within their socially defined roles and interactions with other individuals. The theory expounds on how medical practitioners, especially nurses, interact with their patients in the hopes of achieving desired health goals. King's approach further talks about how a patient can grow and further develop to achieve their desired life objectives. Under the system, Imogene clarifies that the various aspects that could have an impact on achieving set goals are time, space, stress, and roles.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The three Systems with Examples

There are three interactive systems under the KCS model. These are social, personal, and interpersonal systems. The three methods mentioned above each have individual concepts that constitute the whole of the system. Under the personal system, we have components such as body image and reflection, the self, personal space, perception, learning time, and growth and development (McQueen & Mullins, 2017). Under the interpersonal system, there exist components, including coping, role, and stress, communication, interaction, nonverbal communication, verbal communication, and collaboration. The last system of the KCS concept is the social system; under these social systems, there are components including control, organization, status, power, and decision-making.

How the Systems Influence Goal Attainment

Nursing, as a profession, entails the care of patients and, thus, as a nurse, should have individual desired goals for the work to be done and the patients that need to recover. Nurses often need to be exceedingly focused and give all their attention to the patients that are in their care. These nurses should, therefore, make efforts to analyze the patient's situation and their overall capability in dealing with the patient. With this in mind, it is evident that nurses need to set practical goals for both themselves and their patients.

Such goals are essential in that they act as a driving force that makes the nurses to put in the best of their efforts to realize the set goals. King's conceptualized system theory, therefore, challenges nurses to do better in their profession. King's approach further pushes nurses to pursue the required education and attain useful resources. The three systems discussed above allow nurses to challenge themselves and find new and effective ways to go on with their daily activities.

How King's Theory Could Help Define a Clinical Quality Problem

King's conceptualized system model could assist in defining medical quality problems by defining the communication between the nurses and the patients. The approach enables nurses to know that communication is a significant factor that shapes the relationship and helps build trust between the nurse and the patients in question. Clinical quality is better defined by the creation of clinical pathways that ensure that nurses effectively communicate with their patients regarding their goals and desired outcomes from their treatment plans.

In an instance where nurses are open and discuss the various factors affecting the patient with them, patients become more receptive to the treatment plans offered by the nurse, and such occasions support a desirable outcome for both the patient and the nurse. The development of trust is vital because it may lead patients to open up about things that were initially not evident in the treatment diagnosis. Such information can help nurses better decide the most effective treatment options for their patients. King's conceptualized system theory is thus beneficial in defining clinical quality issues.

Applying the Theory to a Potential Practice Quality Improvement Initiative within My Clinical Practice

In my clinical practice, I applied kings conceptualized system theory to a post-operation patient who had just come out of brain surgery. In using the above condition in such a case, as a nurse, I first engaged the patient in a question-answer session whereby I asked the patient questions that would enable me to determine whether they realize the risks that come with their condition and the just performed surgery. Such questions further determine whether the patient understands the factors that surround a post-operation patient. The items that I asked above made me conclude that the patient did not have the required interest in post-operation exercises and ambulation. With the above results in mind, I ensured to share the importance of post-operation activities with the patients and the risks that come with the lack of sufficient activities.

I further educated the patient on the complications and setbacks that could arise without taking part in the required ambulation. After this discussion, it was vital to ensure that the patient has a driving force to propel him to engage in post-operation exercises. It was for this reason that we set a goal with the patient. The goal required that by the end of the treatment, the patient should ensure that he had no medical complications arising from a lack of post-operation exercises. It was essential to discuss further the types of activities that the patient would feel comfortable doing before going into hard tasks that may be a challenge to the patient.

Some of the practices that we agreed to perform to better the patient's condition were breathing exercises, ambulation, proper nutrition that can be achieved by taking sufficient food and water, and activities that would allow adequate circulation of air to the brain. The outcome of using this method and applying KCS theory was the early discharge of the patient having no complications or setbacks whatsoever.

Quality Committees Aligning Outcomes with the Theory

The nursing profession during these modern times is ever-evolving and getting complex with each passing day. As much as this is so, nursing has had one crucial goal since time immemorial, that is, to ensure the provision of a caring, loving and safe environment that promotes the wellbeing and the overall health of patients. Quality committees can thus employ tools such as advocacy to enhance and ensure the continued support for patients.

The advocacy method would allow the input of various individuals in forming new and innovative ideas to deal with the patient's healthcare. Furthermore, cooperation must be enhanced and frequently practiced within a quality committee. Members of the committee have to make plans frequently to meet and discuss the way forward concerning nursing and treatment. Regular meetings allow members to deal with upcoming threats and setbacks to patients and the nursing profession at large.

Disparities in opinions that can lead to disagreements must be well-discussed and laid out for review and where required, implementation. The goal of the quality committee should not be altered in any way, meaning that the decisions that members come up with should be in line with the above goal. Information and essential data concerning the patients and nursing methods should be adequately and timely sent to everyone involved regardless of whether or not they attended the meeting. This action would help every member be aware of the decisions made and the overall inclination of the committee regarding the various issues affecting nursing and patient healthcare. All the people involved in healthcare initiatives should be included in making vital decisions. This involvement should not rely on whether the person is a member of the quality committee.

Additional Nursing Theories

Another nursing model, which supports better nursing quality practice is the Peplaus nurse-patient relationship. This theory is in line with King's conceptualized system principle in that both of the above approaches showed the importance and advantages of developing a trusting relationship between the nurse and the patients. The two theories emphasize the importance of a trusting relationship in developing an effective treatment plan for patients in healthcare.

The nursing profession is a demanding one, and thus nurses should be open-minded and flexible enough to adapt to change. A fixed treatment plan is not effective in treating different patients (Adib-Hajbaghery & Tahmouresi, 2018). Each patient has their own needs, and it is the nurse's job to engage in truthful and honest conversations with the patients to determine an effective treatment plan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the kings conceptualized system theory is an effective theory that shapes the plans and methods applied in the healthcare and nursing sectors. The three systems of the theory are well suited in the development of health-related goals for both the nurses and the patients. Applying King's theory to real case situations with patients has proven to produce positive results for patients with dire health issues.

References

Adib-Hajbaghery, M., & Tahmouresi, M. (2018). Nurse–patient relationship based on the Imogene king's theory of goal attainment. Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 7(3), 141.

McQueen, L., Cockcroft, M., & Mullins, N. (2017). Imogene King's theory of goal attainment and the millennial nurse: An important mentoring tool for nurse educators. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 12(3), 223-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2017.03.003