In general, nursing theories may be regarded as a framework of purposes and concepts that define nursing as a unique discipline. Moreover, they guide the nurse practitioners’ practice in order to provide high-quality and safe health care delivery. Although the culture and caring theories are comparatively new models, they play an immeasurably significant role for nursing as they include fundamental well-defined concepts and tenets that may be empirically validated. As a matter of fact, the concepts of care and culture are traditionally defined as fundamental due to the focus of nursing on the patients’ well-being. In the present day, the systems of health care are becoming more complex all over the world due to innovative technologies and advanced knowledge and skills. That is why nurse practitioners aim to provide safe and cost-effective health care with respect to the patients’ cultural and individual peculiarities. However, the expanded professional role of health care providers requires new concepts and theories to guide person-oriented and culturally appropriate practice at the appropriate level.
Cultural values and beliefs of patients, their families, and communities have a substantial impact on health care delivery. That is why for nurse practitioners, cultural competence is highly essential as it contributes to the cooperation between them and patients from diverse cultural backgrounds to achieve positive results of treatment. In general, the understanding of person-centered care and the ability to function correctly in cross-cultural situations provided by specific theories and models may assist nurses with the establishment of effective cultural and personal sensitive practice.
Previously, I had examined the Person-Centered Nursing Framework, however, during the investigation of various culture and caring theories this week, Leininger’s Cultural Care Diversity Theory attracted my particular attention. This theory attempts “to provide culturally congruent and competent care” for positive healing outcomes (Smith & Parker, 2015, p. 304). According to Leininger (2015), the global challenge of caring for people from various cultural backgrounds was complicated for the majority of health care providers who were concentrated on the purely biomedical study of symptoms. That is why the theory aims to value the cultural peculiarities of every patient.
Multiple nursing theories define a nursing paradigm as a specific pattern that demonstrates the interrelation between a patient, his or her environment, and health. Leininger’s Cultural Care Diversity Theory emphasizes the significance of cultural differences that have a substantial influence on all elements of a nursing paradigm. The patient’s attitude to health is formed by his or her culture. Culture care practices, values, and beliefs “are influenced by and embedded in the worldview” and various social structures, such as politics, religion, and philosophy of life (Smith & Parker, 2015, p. 308). In addition, the theory focuses on the environmental context that implies the impact of various events, situations, and previous experiences on people’s interpretations, expressions, and social interactions in particular cultural settings.
From a personal perspective, Leininger’s Cultural Care Diversity Theory is immeasurably valuable. It not only underlines the significance of the patient’s culture for effective health care delivery, but it provides the reasons for cultural diversity. Previous experience, gender, religion, social ties, legal issues, economics, education, philosophy, technologies, cultural beliefs, and other factors form people’s attitude to life, health, and care. This theory helped me to grow professionally as a nurse practitioner as it illustrated the substantial basis of any person’s cultural and individual peculiarities. It is impossible to change the patients’ attitudes or patterns of behavior, however, it is highly essential to understand and accept them. In addition, the culture theory helps to meet CLAS National Standards and contributes to the advancement of health equity. According to these standards, understandable, equitable, respectful, and effective care and services should be responsive to the patients’ various cultural health values, beliefs, and practices. The same tenets are reflected in Leininger’s Cultural Care Diversity Theory, and its practical application may have a positive impact on effective culturally-oriented care delivery.
Reflection
This week was dedicated to the examination of culture and caring nursing theories. These theories emphasize the significance of cultural competence and the patient’s individuality for effective nursing practice. In fact, all examined theories strengthen my confidence in the necessity of respect from a competent nurse practitioner towards the patients’ cultural and individual peculiarities. The cooperation between patients, their families, and health care providers are immeasurably important when the difference in their cultural backgrounds is substantial. Previously, I observed a particular situation when a health care professional consider the person’s cultural perception of care – a Vietnamese mother did not show any sign of bonding with her newborn child. As a nurse practitioner who knew that this attitude is regarded as normal in the Vietnamese culture, he treated the woman with respect and understanding. In general, I believe that people form their visions on the basis of cultural background, social norms, religious values and beliefs, and individual traits of character. For the majority of clients, respect, empathy, compassion, and understanding from nurses may substantially influence their welfare in a positive way. It is extremely important to see individuality in every patient.
Reference
Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (Eds.) (2015). Nursing theories & nursing practice (4th ed.). F. A. Davis Company.