Introduction
Cultural nursing theories, such as Leininger’s Theory of Nursing, seek to help healthcare institutions provide safe and meaningful care to patients of all cultures. The theories propose techniques that will aid nurses and other healthcare practitioners in respecting cultural diversity by embracing the notions of ethnicity, race, and universality in understanding human behavior. To better understand the challenges of diversity in healthcare delivery, healthcare practitioners are encouraged to assess their own professional and cultural backgrounds while questioning personal preconceptions. This essay aims to describe Leininger’s Culture Care and Universality Theory and Model and how this theory may be used in nursing practice. Furthermore, it will highlight the challenges of coping with this concept due to cultural differences.
Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality
Madeleine Leininger established the Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. The theory is focused on learning and comprehending diverse cultures in terms of nursing, health and disease concerns, personal values, and beliefs to deliver meaningful and effective competent nursing care to individuals based on their cultural values and health sickness background (Wehbe-Alamah, 2018). Leininger’s theory, often known as the Culture Care theory, entails being aware of and comprehending cultural variations in the context of nursing care practice. The idea underlines that diverse cultures need specific yet effective treatment (Wehbe-Alamah, 2018). This knowledge offers culturally distinctive meanings and expressions in the context of care and health. Without this theory, a variety of ineffective care may be readily provided.
Application of Theory In Practice
Culture impacts how people seek health care and interact with health care providers. Individual preferences might impact some healthcare methods since the perception of illness and disease and its causes differ by culture. Culture may significantly affect how we care for patients and respond to that care (Nam, 2018). Nurses must have the skills and expertise to recognize how culture influences health habits. If nurses are armed with this talent and knowledge, they may considerably reduce obstacles to care delivery.
A nurse caring for a Saudi Arabian patient is an excellent example of how treatment may be altered. According to (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2019), the nurse should never administer pills or medication with the left hand since the culture views the left hand as “unclean.” Moreover, it is culturally incorrect for the patient to take the tablet with their left hand; the medication may be withheld, causing significant stress.
Daily Barriers Due To The Cultural Discrepancy
In today’s nursing, Leininger’s Culture Care Theory is critical. Our communities are growing increasingly multicultural daily, raising the challenges for healthcare practitioners to offer safe and culturally competent treatment (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2019). Cultural competency necessitates accepting other cultures’ differences and the capacity to provide care without allowing one’s personal views to interfere with the care delivered.
Conclusion
Learning most of this cultural care variation may be time-consuming and challenging owing to the vast array of distinct cultures. Some cultural customs may be contrary to your own, which can be difficult for most nurses. Because the conceptual model was created to guide nursing practice, there is a danger of insufficient care if one does not understand one’s culture. Studies indicate that when great attention and regard are given to the patient’s culture and ways of life, patient satisfaction rates, particularly in the hospital setting (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2019). Conceptual modes are critical in driving the growth of the nursing field.
References
Leininger, M. M. (1988). Leininger’s Theory of Nursing: Cultural Care Diversity and Universality. Nursing Science Quarterly, 1(4), 152–160. Web.
McFarland, M. R., & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2019). Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality: An Overview With a Historical Retrospective and a View Toward the Future. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30(6), 540–557. Web.
Nam, M. S. (2018). Leininger’s Culture Care Theory: A Naturalistic Reinterpretation. Journal of Pan-Korean Philosophical Society, 91, 257–283. Web.
Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2018). Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory: Classic and New Contributions. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 37(1), 1–23. Web.