Definition
Johnson's theory of nursing believes that humans are behavioral systems made up of seven subsystems.
Description
Johnson's theory of nursing, also known as the behavioral systems model, was created by Dorothy Johnson. She was born on August 21, 1919 in Georgia. She attended Armstrong Junior College, from which she received her A.A. in 1938, and Vanderbilt University from which she received her B.S.N. in 1942. She also attended Harvard University from which she received her M.P.H. in 1948. She taught pediatric nursing at
Johnson believed that humans are behavioral systems made up of seven subsystems. These subsystems are:
- achievement—to deal with goals, goal setting, goal attainment
- affiliative—to form relationships and relate to others
- aggressive/protective—to protect oneself, to respond to threats
- dependency—to obtain feedback about the self, to recognize need for dependence upon others
- eliminative—to eliminate waste, to express feelings
- ingestive—to intake nutrients, to obtain knowledge
- sexual—to develop gender based identity, to have sexual relationships, to procreate
The seven subsystems interact with each other and are all interrelated and interconnected. They are also acted on by external factors. Johnson believed that the environment was constantly acting on the subsystems, and that the environment was made up of everything outside the person, including other people, cultural factors, and environmental factors such as temperature. When the seven subsystems are not all in balance the behavior exhibited by the person will not be optimal. Johnson believed the goal of nursing was to help the patient to restore the subsystems to balance to achieve the best possible functioning behavior.
Johnson believed that there are four possible things that can be wrong with a subsystem and cause it to become out of balance. The first is insufficiency, when the subsystem has not developed fully or does not get enough of something. The second is discrepancy, which is when the subsystem is not working in a way that leads to the optimal goal state. The third is incompatibility, which is when subsystems conflict, and the fourth is dominance, which is when one subsystem is always used even though it might not be the best to lead to the goal state or most functional behavior.
When the nurse diagnoses a problem with a subsystem Johnson believed that the nurse should act to help restore it to balance. This can be done by helping the patient regulate his or her behavior by restricting it, by altering the external or internal environment to lead to balance, or by providing the patient with nurturance, stimulation, and protection to help the patient have the opportunity to restore balance himself or herself.
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