Transcultural Nursing Model Transcultural Nursing Theory
Transcultural Nursing Theory was developed by Madeleine Leininger. The theory first appeared in Leininger’s publication in 1991 but the theory itself was developed in the 1950s. Early in her nursing practice, Madeleine Leininger through observation, recognized that there was an important component of patient care that was missing. She noticed the lack of recognition and integration of patient’s cultural background into their plan of care. She recognized that patient’s cultural background influences their responses to health and illness and more importantly she believed that part of viewing the patient as a whole is taking into account their culture and cultural background in developing a plan of care. Her theory attempts to provide culturally competent nursing care through “cognitively based assistive, supportive, facilitative, or enabling acts or decisions that are mostly tailor-made to fit with individual, groups, or institution’s cultural values, beliefs, and lifeways.” The goal is to improve health outcome for people who are of different cultural backgrounds.
Transcultural Nursing Theory has 3 components to it, the assessment, nursing care plan and evaluation. Leininger believed that a culturally friendly care for the patient begins with a culturalogical assessment which take into consideration the cultural background of an individual patient in relation to his or her health experience. This assessment also require the nurse to be self-aware of his or her own cultural influences especially when dealing with patients from different culture and cultural backgrounds. After assessment, a care plan is developed for the patient. The care plan should include the individual’s patient’s cultural values and beliefs. For example, a good care plan for a patient who is a Muslim and beliefs in praying five times a