Think about the Leininger's Culture Care and Universality Theory and Model
How can you define this theory?
How can you apply this theory in your practice?
What were the barriers that you faced daily due to the cultural discrepancy?
Contribute a minimum of 450 words for your initial post. It should include at least 2 academic sources, formatted and cited in APA.
The Sunrise Model is Leininger's visual representation of the theory. It depicts a sun with four levels that guide the nurse in assessing a client's cultural context. The top layer represents the worldview and social structure (e.g., religion, economic factors, political systems). The middle layer shows the individual, family, and group cultural expressions, which influence health patterns. The bottom layer outlines the three modes of nursing care decisions and actions: culture care preservation or maintenance, culture care accommodation or negotiation, and culture care repatterning or restructuring. The ultimate goal is to provide culturally competent care that respects the client's values and leads to improved health outcomes.
Applying Leininger's theory in practice involves a deep commitment to cultural humility and patient-centered care. The first step is to engage in a process of cultural assessment to understand the client's worldview, beliefs about health and illness, and family structure. For example, when working with a client from a collectivist culture, a nurse must recognize that healthcare decisions are often made by the entire family, not just the individual. Instead of directing all communication to the patient, the nurse should include the family in the discussion and decision-making process.
In my practice, this theory can be applied by employing Leininger's three modes of action. For a client who practices traditional medicine, I can use culture care accommodation or negotiation by integrating their herbal remedies into their treatment plan, as long as it does not conflict with prescribed medications. I would negotiate a schedule that allows for both, demonstrating respect for their beliefs while ensuring their safety. For an older adult who relies on a specific dietary practice for health, I would use culture care preservation by working with the hospital's dietary team to ensure their meals align with their cultural and spiritual needs. Lastly, if a patient's cultural practice, such as a traditional healing ritual, poses a safety risk, I would use culture care repatterning by collaborating with the patient and their family to find a safer, alternative approach that respects their beliefs while prioritizing their well-being. This requires open communication and trust.
Despite the benefits of applying this theory, I have faced significant barriers due to cultural discrepancies. One of the most common is the language barrier, which makes it difficult to conduct a thorough cultural assessment without a professional interpreter. Relying on family members can lead to miscommunication or a lack of confidentiality.
Leininger's Culture Care and Universality Theory, often referred to as Transcultural Nursing, is a holistic framework that defines nursing as a humanistic and scientific discipline aimed at providing culturally congruent care. The theory posits that for care to be effective and meaningful, it must align with an individual's or group's cultural values, beliefs, and life practices. Leininger defines culture care diversity as the differences in meanings, patterns, and values of care across different cultures, while culture care universality refers to the commonalities or similarities in the meanings of care that are shared among many cultures. The core of the theory is that caring is a universal human phenomenon, but its expression and meaning are specific to each culture.