NR 501 Week 1 Discussion-Importance of Theory in Nursing Application of the Goal Attainment Theory to Nurse Practitioner

NR 501 Week 1 Discussion-Importance of Theory in Nursing

Application of the Goal Attainment Theory to Nurse Practitioner

 Using theories to guide and structure the care they provide is essential. “King’s theory focuses on the major concept of transaction that describes the transfer of values, aspirations and wants between the nurse and the patient.” (de Leon-Damare, MacDonald, Gregory, Katz, & Halas, 2015, 632). The concepts outlined in this theory would help guide the structure of patient interaction to achieve a desired goal for the patient and the practitioner. Sangster-Gormley, Frisch, & Schriber (2013) believe that the “Use of mid-level theories can provide patient-centered outcomes that are sensitive to NP practice, potentially altering the dominance of provider-centered discourses around evaluation.” (Sangster-Gormley, Frisch, & Schriber, 2013, 1.657). In the longitudinal study conducted by de Leon-Damare et al. (2015), NP encounters with patients were taped over three sessions and then coded using the concepts in the theory of goal attainment. (de Leon-Damare et al, 2015, p. 631). The purpose of the study was to describe the interactions of patients and NPs in a primary care setting to further the understanding of these interactions using the theory. (de Leon-Damare et al, 2015, p. 631). Their results proved consistent with concepts presented in King’s theory regarding transactions and their positive relation to reaching a mutual goal with the patient. They concluded that the theory exemplifies respect for patients and emphasizes information exchange, goal setting, and patient-centered care. (de Leon-Damare et al, 2015, p. 635). Another example is an encounter I experience in the workplace daily. On the skilled/rehab unit, an NP works on the floor regularly and does rounds on patients during the week. At discharge, she talks to the patient about going home and discusses what will be required to manage their condition at home. The patient is allowed to present any obstacles that may get in the way of being able to maintain at home. Examples of these may include the need for oxygen at home, lack of wheelchair accessibility, or lack of income to purchase medications. Once the issues are identified, the NP consults with the social worker, doctor, and other team members to explore resource options to help the patient return home. Using the patient’s input to structure the discharge increases the possibility of success for the patient upon leaving the hospital. This process of including the patient in the planning of care to achieve the mutual goal of the patient returning home represents some of the concepts outlined in this theory.

Conclusion

 In conclusion, theory is essential to the nursing profession. It provides the structure and knowledge base to guide our practice. Without it, there would be no way to justify care practices or predict care outcomes. The theory of goal attainment outlines the steps necessary in a patient encounter to achieve an obtainable goal in their healthcare. It addresses all four paradigms according to the theory and focuses on the nurse and patient interactions. This theory can be applied to the nurse practitioner role because patient encounters are a significant part of how the practitioner provides care. Utilizing the concepts presented in this theory will help the NP establish a rapport with the patient and create a reachable goal that will help improve the patient’s health outcome. I learned from this assignment that theory is necessary for the nursing profession for several reasons. The most important thing is that it provides the structure for the nursing practice. I learned about many theories developed over the years and how relevant they are to practice today. I couldn’t imagine my job and how it would be without structure. I also gained a better understanding of the role of the NP. The focus of my assessments will be different in my new role, so using the concepts outlined in this theory will help me structure the focus of my assessment to achieve the desired outcome for the patient and me. I will use all the things I learned to guide my practice and provide quality care to improve health outcomes.

References

American Associations of Colleges of Nursing (2011). The essentials of master’s education in nursing. They were retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education- resources/MastersEssentials11.pdf.