Examination: Nursing Theory

Application of Johnson Behavioral System Model

in Nursing Practices: The Strength and Limitation

By: Karina Megasari Winahyu

Lecturer: Dr. Kamolrat Turner

Master of Nursing Science

Boromarajonani College of Nursing Nopparat Vajira
Graduate School, Kasetsart University
February, 27th 2013

Johnsons Behavioral System Model (JBSM) explained about an attractive, repetitive, purposeful
ways of behaving that view person as behavioral system with their subsystem. This theory developed
in 1980. This model attempts to achieve stability and equilibrium through adaptation and regulation
the subsystems. Johnson explained the Behavioral System Model into seven subsystems and connects
them into Meta paradigm of nursing. This model can apply into nursing practice through nursing
process.
The first step in nursing process is assessment phase. The Behavioral System Model consist of
seven subsystems as major concepts (Johnson in 1980 as cited in Alligood & Tomey, 2006). These
major concepts are used as component to assess the person (client). The subsystems consist of
attachement-affiliative, dependency, ingestive, eliminative, sexual, achievement, and aggressiveprotective. The first one is attachment-affiliatve that related to social involvement that uphold a wellbuilt social relationship. The second is dependency subsystem that can be assessed by asking and
observing situation that made client being dependent to others help. The third is ingestive that related
to wide-ranging function of the need to eat. Eliminative is including the fourth subsystem that address
reason, time, and condition people eliminate. Another subsystem is sexual subsystem as reproduction
and satisfaction. The other subsystem is achievement subsystems that try to control environment by
people capability. And the last subsystem is aggressive-protective subsystem as guard and
conservation.
The strength of the assessment phase while using JBSM is that the model guided nurse to assess
client considering the bio-psiko-socio-environment perspective. Otherwise, the component of
achievement subsystem linked client with the environment on object and situation on clients
perspective, it is not described environment as a part that can give impact to client. The element of

assessment more likely to use in clinical setting than community, community nursing care needs to
assess environment resource beside the resources of client.
After assessed the component within seven subsystems, the problems appeared through imbalance
of one or more subsystems of client. Then, those data is organized to fit the classification of diagnosis.
The diagnosis classified into four categories such as: insufficiency, discrepancy, incompatibility, and
dominance. The strength of diagnosed phase utilize JBSM is the diagnosis reflect on anticipated
disease not only the actual disease. However, the limitation of this model of diagnosis is focus on
general aspect of system in the model not specifically described the detailed problem in each
subsystem.
Intervention and implementation phase in JBSM consist of three types such as nurturance that
demonstrated direct care of nurse; protection that demonstrated the assisting, maintaining, and
expanding the coping mechanism; stimulation that demonstrated nurse as role model provided
knowledge and client needs to perform nursing care process. This model facilitated the cooperation
between nurse and client can be considered as the strength of its utilization. Nonetheless, the usage of
this model is focused on facilitate stability state when patient in disease condition, and a few
explanation that demonstrated prevention and health promotion.
The last step of nursing process is evaluation. The outcome of nursing intervention is to achieve
the stability of system. Equilibrium of system is showed by well-functioning of each subsystem after
nurse performed nursing care to overcome the problems of client or assist client to cope with the
problems. The evaluation is involved worth differences both internal and interpersonal aspect of client.
In conclusion, Johnsons Behavioral System Model (JBSM) can be utilized in nursing practice through
the nursing process. However, nurse while using this model need to add another component to provide
nursing care more holistically.

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References

Alligood, M. R. & Tomey, A. M. (2006). Nursing theory: Utilization & aoolication. (3rd ed.).
St. Louis: Mosby