Nursing theory provides a point from which to define the what, who, and when in nursing and further determine the goals and boundaries of the therapeutic activities involved. This should be developed to describe the nursing phenomenon, including the process, event or occurrence involved (Parker & Smith, 2010). Although different theories address relatively specific and concrete phenomena, their scope may vary. As such, broad- and medium-range theories address specific nursing issues but cover different domains. This article evaluates a middle-range theory of goal attainment advanced by a theorist, Imogene King. Goal achievement theory is distinct and was used by King to describe the interpersonal and dynamic relationship aimed at achieving the patient's life goals, therefore fundamental to progress in nursing education and practice. Chinn and Kramer (2011) define middle-range theory as the relative classification for a theory that incorporates concepts, relationships, and purposes that reflect limited aspects of a broad phenomenon. It is known to address more concrete and focused phenomena than grand theory. According to Smith and Liehr (2014), the theories in this portfolio contain predictions, explanations and descriptions that answer questions about nursing phenomena, but do not cover the discipline concerned comprehensively. Derived in 1981, Goal Attainment Theory sought to answer the question of what the nature of nursing is. King gave the answer to this as “the way nurses, in their role, do with and for individuals that differentiates nursing from other professionals” (Parker & Smith, 2010, 148). This framework is based on the assumption that the human being is the focus of nursing. The goal of nursing is to promote, maintain, and restore he...... half of paper ......lleen, MB & King, IM (2007). Point of view: Using King's conceptual system, nursing informatics, and nursing classification systems for global communication. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 18 (2), 51 – 57. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-618X.2007.00050.xMeleis, AI (2012). Theoretical nursing: Development and progress (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Parker, M.E. & Smith, M.C. (2010). Nursing theories and nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company. Smith, M.J., & Liehr, P.R. (Eds.). (2014). Middle range theory for nursing. New York, NY: Springer.Tomey, A. M., & Alligood, M. R. (2002). Nursing theorists and their work (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Mosby.Williams, L.A. (2001). Imogene King's Interacting Systems Theory: Application in Emergency and Rural Nursing. Online Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 2 (1), 25–30