Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment identifies three interacting systems. Which is the third system?

• A. Social
• B. Environmental
• C. Cultural
• D. Personal

Answer: (A)

Imogene King’s theory explains goal attainment through three interacting systems: the personal system (the individual’s own perceptions, needs, and goals), the interpersonal system (the relationships and communication between two or more people, such as nurse and patient), and the social system (the broader societal context that includes families, communities, institutions, norms, roles, and resources). The third system is the social system, because it provides the larger framework that influences and is influenced by goal-directed actions within nursing care. It shapes how goals are negotiated and how plans are carried out across the health-care environment and community. The personal and interpersonal systems focus on the individual and their immediate interactions, while cultural or environmental labels aren’t the defined third system in this theory.