Pictured at Celebration of Research and Productive Scholarship week, displaying my poster on History of Ultrasound and CT Scan
One of my most memorable learning experiences while at the University of South Carolina Lancaster campus was completing an Evolution of Nursing course (NURS 212) and learning about the Imogene King Model of Goal Attainment. I have attached a copy of a Nursing theory chart as well as my class notes on this key insight for the purpose of this within the classroom experience. This nursing concept focuses on setting health goals, as well as prevention, and education for disease management through the establishment of goals. The King Model of Goal Attainment is the practice of establishing goals to meet that individual’s needs. The main goal of personal health is to constantly adjust to the environment and its stressors, while maximizing the use of resources, setting goals and achieving goals for one’s role in life. This concept of setting goals and achieving those goals can be applied to Nursing, research, and in one’s personal life. In addition, this concept argues that needs cannot be met by the individual alone indicating that they require the intervention of a professional with the knowledge and expert skills in a particular subject matter or field of study. Health is the primary goal of the individual however; “health only exists in individuals who achieve their highest level of functioning (Catalano, 2015).” According to King, health is a dynamic process that involves a range of human life experiences (Catalano, 2015). Last, King’s Model of Goal Attainment emphasizes the importance of promotion and maintenance of health through education.
Applying Goal Setting Theory
After learning about King’s Model of Goal Attainment, I have been able to apply the concept of goal setting theory, which was developed by researcher Edwin Locke. The purpose of goal setting is to motivate individuals to complete an objective through the use of a detailed plan of action. Steps to goal setting include: clarity, complexity, motivation, and feedback. When developing goals it is important to set clear and concise goals within a specific time frame. In addition, a goal must be challenging in order to motivate an individual to take action. However, it is important to consider that excess work towards a goal without the appropriate resources will result in work overload thus hindering the individual from completing that goal. When developing a goal, motivation to learn “new” knowledge is also necessary in order to complete tasks that are within the detailed plan of action. When establishing a goal, feedback is required to monitor the progression of completing a goal. Another purpose of goal setting is to aid individuals in achieving success. According to Locke and Latham,” individuals who set detailed and complex goals are more likely to perform better tasks and more likely to achieve those goals than those who set simpler goals (Locke & Latham, 2006).” For example, the higher the expectations for a goal, then the higher the effort and motivation to accomplish the goal. Goals that are intended for intellectual pursuits are known as learning goals that are set in order to attain higher learning through acquiring knowledge or a skill. In addition, goals that are designed for the purpose of attaining higher learning are more likely to increase an individual’s cognitive thinking (Locke & Latham, 2006).
Goal Setting Theory in Research
Currently, I have been able to apply the concept of goal setting theory to my current work in research as well as in my personal life. An example in which I applied the goal setting theory to aid in self-actualization through the pursuit of higher learning is in my current research work. After gaining new experiences in undergraduate research and developing an abstract, hypothesis, collecting data, testing my hypothesis and reviewing the results I have been able to complete a poster presentation and prepare for a lecture for Discover USC. I have applied the goal setting theory to my research by setting goals to complete my abstract and poster presentation in order to meet educational due dates and requirements for undergraduate research at USC.
Upon completing the Senior Capstone Experience course and presenting my research at Discover USC, my personal goals are to continue working on my research in hopes of publishing my findings in the CARAVEL student journal. Upon graduating with an Associate in Science degree this May 2018, I will be continuing my work in Professional and Civic Engagement as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student while at USC. My goals also include applying the knowledge and skills learned in research as well as in leadership to my professional career as a Registered Nurse. Last, I plan on furthering my education by attending graduate school particularly to become a nurse practitioner that specializes in Family Medicine. A life goal of mine is to seek higher education and to seek learning opportunities that will allow me to become the best version of myself.
During my first undergraduate degree I learned about Abraham Maslow’s well-known theory that prioritized human needs as a form of “hierarchy of needs” and I became interested in the concept of self-actualization. Maslow believed that self-actualization could be achieved after the most basic needs of an individual were met first. The hierarchy of basic needs include: physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, and self-esteem. Self- actualization is when an individual reaches his or her maximum potential by means of self-discovery through the use of expressions in the form of art, philosophical or religious enlightenment or through the pursuit of higher learning (McLeod, 2007). Self-actualization is the desire to positively impact society. According to Maslow, the majority of individuals never reach self-actualization (McLeod, 2007). After reflecting on this concept, I realized that as individuals on life’s journey towards self-actualization it is important to take the time to enjoy life and the process of getting to where one wants to be even if some goals are not met.
Research for Self-Actualization
Self-Actualization and King’s Model of Goal Attainment both address that an individual’s basic needs must be met first in order to allow the individual to accomplish goals that are required for an individual to establish his or her role in life. King’s Model of Goal attainment focuses on creating a plan and taking action towards achieving one’s life goals. These life goals can include seeking higher education, becoming a skillful and successful artist in music, theatre, dance, or art, or taking conscientious actions towards promoting ethical and philosophical principles that will positively impact society such as global peace and humanitarian rights activism. Using King’s Model of Goal attainment through the application of goal setting theory may facilitate an individual towards achieving self-actualization.
An example of research for self-actualization in a within the classroom experience that I attended while at USCL is a Body Composition and Health Research Planning and Promotion (HPEB 399) class. This course allowed me to pursue knowledge and higher learning through undergraduate research. Throughout this course, my peers and I participated in grant writing, promoting research on campus through research club and Celebration of Research and Productive Scholarship week as well as a preparing a research study for the upcoming year. I also participated in fundraisers to help raise money for a trip to an international research conference that will occur this upcoming year. Most importantly, this course allowed me to prepare my undergraduate research poster for Discover USC that was held in April 2018. I have attached a copy of my undergraduate research poster that I completed throughout this course for Discover USC. In addition to presenting my undergraduate research on the relationship among screen-time, body fat percentage, and measured physical activity in college student populations at Discover USC, I was awarded first place in my category for my research findings. This accomplishment further solidifies my belief that individuals have the capacity and ability to be the best version of themselves if they set their minds to accomplish their goals.
I believe that individuals who have the desire to seek higher education and are motivated to learn are more likely to develop profound intellectual reasoning, problem solving skills, are more likely to use empirical and rational thinking as well as to develop personal growth through these learning experiences. I also believe that global interpersonal awareness as well as intrapersonal self-awareness is achieved through pursuing higher learning and education. Global interpersonal awareness is the ability to understand others, the ability to communicate well with others, and the ability to empathize with others. Intrapersonal self-awareness is the ability to learn from within, the ability to understand how one's actions can impact others, and the ability to reflect internally on whether or not a task or action is beneficial.
In conclusion, one must apply the goal setting theory by using the theoretical approach of Imogene King’s model of Goal attainment to develop goals that will aid an individual in achieving self-actualization. Self-actualization can include the pursuit of higher learning through scientific research. As goal-oriented individuals it is important to find joy and peace in every day and not get easily frustrated when things divert from your life’s plan. When applying the goal setting theory, it is important to have the ability to adapt to change and develop new strategies in order to successfully accomplish one’s goals.
References
Catalano, J. T. (2015). Nursing now! Today’s issues, tomorrow’s trends (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A .Davis Co.
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2006). New Directions in Goal-Setting Theory. Current Directions In Psychological Science, 15(5), 265-268. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00449.x
McLeod, S. (2007). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Simply Psychology, 1.
USCL Research club members and research student assistants, Spring 2018
Discover USC Day, April 2018
Presenting my undergraduate research on the relationship among screen-time, body fat percentage, and measured physical activity in college student populations.
Recognition for being awarded first place in my category for my undergraduate research at Discover USC, April 2018