Culture Care and Diversity A Nursing Theory By Rabia Chaudhry

Dr. Leininger was the first professional nurse with a PhD in anthropology. She brought nursing and anthropology together and came up with the term transcultural nursing. Her Culture Care Diversity & Universality theory was one of the earliest nursing theories and it remains the only theory focused specifically on transcultural nursing. Her theory is used worldwide. (Leininger, 2006)

Description of the theory The Culture Care Diversity and Universality theory, according to Dr. Leininger, focuses on describing, explaining, and predicting nursing similarities and differences. It focuses primarily on human care and their culture. In addition, The Culture Care Diversity & Universality theory focuses on methods of approach that takes care of patients and their culture. (Leininger, 2006)

Research Dr. Leininger developed her theory, Culture Care Diversity and Universality from a combination of anthropology & nursing beliefs & principles 1985 – she first published her theory in Nursing Science Quarterly 1988 - further explained her theory in same journal 1991 - published her book Culture Care Diversity and Universality: A Theory of Nursing (Leininger, 2006)

Theory applied to nursing Based on transcultural nursing model: Transcultural nursing: is a learned branch of nursing that focuses on the comparative study & analysis of cultures. They apply these concepts to nursing and health-illness practices, beliefs, and values. Goal of Transcultural Nursing: is to provide care that is congruent with cultural values, beliefs, and practices. (Leininger, 1999)

Theory’s Purpose & Goal Purpose: to explicate transcultural nursing knowledge and practice Goal: to identify ways to provide culturally congruent nursing care to people of diverse or similar cultures (Leininger, 2006)

The Sunrise Enabler The theory includes an enabler. It serves as a conceptual guide or cognitive map to guide nurses in the systematic study of all dimensions of the theory. This map or guide is called the Sunrise Enabler. (Leininger, 2006)

(Leininger, 2006. pp25)

Applying theory in nursing practice Knowledge of cultural diversity is essential for nurses in order to provide appropriate care to clients, families, and communities. It also requires understanding of values, beliefs, and practices of a client’s culture. Nursing actions must be culture-specific. Culture Care theory not only focuses on nurse-client interaction but the focus also includes care for families, groups, communities, cultures and institutions. (Leininger, 1994)

CONCLUSION (Leininger, 2006) We live in a cities/states that are rich in diversity, and globalization has become a fact of life, therefore, it is essential to value diversity. Nursing is a transcultural humanistic profession with the central purpose of serving individuals, groups, communities and institutions worldwide. If there is evidence of nurturing caring behaviors with the use of culture-specific care, there will be more signs of well being and fewer signs of illness. (Leininger, 2006)

References Leininger, M. M.& McFarland, R. M. (2006). Culture care diversity and Universality, A world wide Nursing theory (2nd ed). (pp1-50). Jones and Bartlette Publishers. http://books.google.com/books?id=NmY43MysbxIC&pg=PA24&dq=sunrise+enabler+picture&lr=#v=onepage&q=sunrise%20enabler%20picture&f=false Leininger, M. M. (1994). Nursing Education and International Perspective. Teaching and Learning Transcultural Nursing. (pp 207-225). Juta & Co, Zebra Publications. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tHq0pWamh1oC&oi=fnd&pg=PA207&dq=leininger%27s+transcultural+nursing+theory&ots=wyJJ6fqy5b&sig=xyHHQ8sHiboDBmiVqyZD0RJ7kH0#v=onepage&q=leininger's%20transcultural%20nursing%20theory&f=false Leininger, M. M.(1999). What is Transcultural Nursing and Culturally Competent Care. J Transcult Nurs 1999; 10; 9. http://tcn.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/10/1/9.pdf