Madeleine Leininger Theory of Transcultural Nursing, Essay Example

One in every three Americans is from a diverse cultural group (Kardong-Edgreen, S., & Campinha-Bacote, J., 2012). In the United States, people from a Hispanic origin are the fastest growing minority group. It has been estimated that 97 million or one fourth of the American population will be of Hispanic origin by the year 2050(Kardong-Edgreen, S., & Campinha-Bacote, J., 2012). Due to the presence of diversity, health care workers must be aware of ethnic identifies, cultural backgrounds, and values of the patients they may serve.  Nurses must go through cultural competence training-a process in which health care workers are taught to work with patients accordance to their cultural identity.  This theory is defined as a complex integration of personal knowledge, attitudes, and other skills needed to enhance cross-cultural communication when working with clients of ethnicities other than the one the practitioner identifies with.

Madeleine Leininger Theory of Transcultural Nursing

The Theory of Transcultural nursing is considered to be founded by Madeleine Leininger. This theory is also known as Culture Care Theory. Transcultural nursing is a comparative study of culture that seeks to convey the similarities and differences among different groups of society. By definition, culture is a set of values, beliefs and traditions that are possessed by a specific group of people and is handed down from one generation to the next. Culture can also be learned from one’s family. This learned behavior can affect one’s habits, likes, and dislikes. All of these ideals can affect one’s decisions and actions (Leininger, 2011). Transcultural nursing is an important aspect of the healthcare field today.  Because the United States population is significantly changing into a multi-cultural population, nurses must acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully treat their patients.  Nursing practices demand that nurses treat the patient in a holistic manner.  For example, “This holistic approach in nursing addresses the physical, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients. It is important to emphasize that nurses must identify and meet these needs in order to provide individualized care, which has been stipulated as a patient’s right and a hallmark of professional nursing practice “ (Ryan, M. 2011). In other words, holistic care means that the nurse meets the patient’s individual needs. In order to meet the needs of all of their patients, nurses must have knowledge of the patient’s cultural perspectives. For example, if a nurse understands a person’s religious beliefs, he/she will understand that some religious beliefs will not allow some cultures to have blood transfusions. Jehovah’s Witnesses forbid this medical service.

Practicum Goals and Objectives

1.  I will apply transcultural nursing framework to guide my nursing practice in diverse health care setting as I care for women

2.  I will educate a patient and/or family on health prevention and health promotion using the adaptation theory of Madeleine Leininger Theory of Transcultural Nursing by informing them that I am aware of their beliefs and is willing to merge what they believe with my practices

3.  I will demonstrate cultural nursing by analyzing major concerns and issues encountered by nurses to provide culturally competent and culturally congruent care

4.  I will demonstrate an appropriate complete physical exam on a patient during my clinical time with reference to differences in meanings, values, and acceptable modes of care according to the patient’s culture

5.  I will utilize a screening tool and provide education for a patient who has come to have yearly pap/pelvic exam to ensure her health and well-being

6.  I will gain cultural competence and successful communication techniques by identifying/utilizing the available resources and common ethnic backgrounds of the population we serve by implementing Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care Theory

7.  I will assist in providing evidence based health care for women by reminding them of necessary health screenings women should obtain-pap/pelvic exam, mammograms, etc.

Week 1 Journal Entry

Although I have not started my clinical rotation yet, I am looking forward to caring for women from different cultural backgrounds. Not only will I be caring for them, but I will also be learning from them. The knowledge that I gain from working with them will help me in my future endeavors of being an OB/GYN. By studying the ideas of Transcultural Nursing, I am aware of many of the beliefs and values that the women I server may have. By knowing this, I believe the patients I server will have more respect for me; hence, they will be more willing to take the suggestions I give them about their health and well-being.

Conclusion

Transcultural Nursing is a concept that conveys treating the holistic person. In order for patients to receive proper treatment, the nurse must be aware of their cultural background. By being aware of this, nurses will understand how to treat their patients.  When nurses are not aware of cultural differences, they will experience what Leininger called “cultural shock”. For example, “Leininger experienced what she describes as a cultural shock when she realized that recurrent behavioral patterns in children appeared to have a cultural basis. Leininger identified a lack of cultural and care knowledge as the missing link to nursing’s understanding of the many variations required in patient care to support compliance, healing, and wellness” (Glittenberg, 2010)

With this theory, nursing care aligns with what the patient believes in. After all, many believe that healing and well-being begins in the mind

References

Glittenberg, J. (2010). A trans disciplinary, transcultural model for health care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 15(1), 6–10

Kardong-Edgreen, S., & Campinha-Bacote, J. (2012). Cultural competency of graduating US Bachelor of Science nursing students. Contemporary Nurse, 28, 37–44.

Leininger, M. M. (2011). Culture care theory: A major contribution to advance transcultural nursing knowledge and practices. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 13(3), 189–192.

Ryan, M. (2011). A celebration of a life of commitment to transcultural nursing: Opening of the Madeleine M. Leininger Collection on Human Caring and Transcultural Nursing. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 22(1), 97.