Nursing is a field that is crucial in the livelihoods of individuals. The role played by registered nurses in medical facilities is one that the society cannot downplay. While the nursing fraternity has a code of conduct that promotes the quality of care that patients should receive, there are theories that facilitate the development of a productive service delivery.
Theories, which include the ‘Needs Theory’ proposed by Virginia Henderson and ‘Transcultural Nursing Theory’ advanced by Madeleine Leininger, promote the quality of nursing. While the ‘Needs Theory’ takes the place of a grand theory, Transcultural Nursing Theory is among the middle range theories taking after the footsteps of grand theories. Effective application of the tenets espoused by these aforementioned theories helps medical practitioners deliver services that match patient needs and amplify the quality of medical services that they deliver. The purpose of this essay is to compare the aforementioned theories and assess their usefulness in the medical field.
Background of the Theories
Needs and Transcultural Theories
Advanced by Virginia Henderson, the theory utilizes personalized medical attention to explain the relationship between nurses and patients and its relevance. From her perspective, Virginia uses the theory to champion the fact that nurses should develop a relationship that personalizes services, which they accord to patients. The theory explains that nurses need to understand the innate feelings and expectations of the patients so that they can deliver services that match these expectations.
In the theory, it is clear that by understanding patient needs, a nurse can successfully care for the patients and ensure that the overall process of recovery is swift. Some of the provisions espoused by the theory include ensuring that patients recover quickly, acquire independence as soon as possible, be free from unnecessary suffering, and experience the minimal process of hospitalization and admission. The provisions of Needs Theory according to Alligood (2014) focus on amplifying the quality of care that patients receive from healthcare facilities.
On the other hand, Transcultural Nursing Theory proposed by Madeleine Leininger is one that approaches the service delivery from a perspective of culture, beliefs, ideals, and affiliations held by patients. The theory asserts that before delivering services, nurses should first understand the various beliefs and orientations of patients. In addition, the theory claims that an enhanced understanding of patient values and cultural beliefs are the good ingredients that facilitate successful healthcare.
From Leininger’s point of view, nurses can provide care after effectively understanding the beliefs of patients (Giger, 2016). The assertions evidenced by the theory imply that cultural values and religious beliefs are core in the execution of a successful medical attention by nurses. A close study of the theory reveals that its cornerstones revolve around the ideals of the patients and the respect that medical practitioners demonstrate towards these ideals. Therefore, when delivering services nurses should align themselves in a manner that is in harmony with the beliefs of their patients.
Philosophical Foundations
The two aforementioned theories, Needs Theory and Transcultural Nursing Theory have a number of philosophical underpinning also referred to as foundations. Some of the foundations that are evident from the theories include the quality of care that patients receive, the relationship between nurses and patients, as well as empathy towards patients. The needs theory, for instance, explains that nurses need to develop a good relationship with their patients to an extent that they understand their experiences and feel their suffering (Alligood, 2014). By associating with patient experiences, the nurses can empathize with them, an aspect that augments the amount of care that they receive. Without a good understanding of patient feelings, care may not follow the tenets outlined by the theories.
Therefore, to ensure that nurses deliver their duties in line with the provisions of the Needs Theory Arora (2015) explains that medical practitioners should develop a good understanding with patients through well-designed interpersonal relationship and communication. The assertion presents the foundations of the theory and clarifies the role that the foundations play in elevating the effectiveness of the theory. A scrutiny of the Needs Theory makes the reader understand that Henderson had the patient in mind while drafting the theory. By championing for minimized suffering and encouraging patient independence, it is clear that Henderson focused on care and good nurse-patient relationship when she drafted the Needs Theory.
On the other hand, Transcultural Nursing Theory demonstrates the foundations when it advocates for cultural alignment and assertiveness from nurses. The approach taken by the theory is one that compels nurses to develop a good relationship with patients through alignment to their ideals and beliefs. Fundamentally, a nurse cannot understand patient ideals and beliefs in the absence of a good relationship with the respective patients.
Therefore, the theory plays a pivotal role in ensuring that its foundations, which include care, development of a productive nurse-patient relationship, and empathy, flourish. According to Natan, Ehrenfeld, and Itzhaki (2015), Transcultural Nursing Theory uses patient culture and values to ensure that medical practitioners adhere to its philosophical foundations/underpinnings that comprise care, good relationship, and empathy when executing their duties. When nurses strive to understand the beliefs and values held by patients, they become good friends and eventually earn respects and confidence, which translates into amplified medical attention.
Concepts and Assumptions
Needs Theory
The Needs and Transcultural Nursing Theories have various concepts and assumptions that they demonstrate. The Needs Theory holds onto concepts that include inseparability of the patient and the mind, care and attention from nurses, and the relevance of considering the patient as a biopsychosocial entity who has needs. From the perspective of Ahtisham and Jacoline (2015), Needs Theory promotes the scale of care accorded to patients. Conversely, the theory has some assumptions that emerge from a study of its concepts and provisions. The assumptions include the amount of care, nature of education, and treatment of return patients. Apparently, the theory explains that nurses need to attend to patients all through the day and at night, a concept that may be practical especially in the face of increasing demand from a rising number of patients.
Notably, the assumption, which relates to nature of education, revolves around the issue raised by the theory seeking to expand the scale of education received by nurses to include a degree in arts. Englebright, Aldrich, and Taylor (2014) elucidate that the assumption associated with care demonstrated by Needs Theory is not clear and practical since a number of contemporary nurses execute their duties successfully under minimal supervision and will only need continued training on the changes that transpire in the process of service delivery. Another assumption that hampers the overall reliability of the theory is that of return patients. According to the theory, patients should take minimal time in medical facilities and should be encouraged to exercise independence during and after service delivery. The assumption does not clarify the treatment that patients will experience in the event that they return to the facility in need of checkups or attention.
Transcultural Nursing Theory
Just like the grand Needs Theory, Transcultural Nursing Theory has concepts that it espouses. The concepts revolve around care and medical attention that patients receive. Some of the concepts include the fact that care is an aid to help an individual recover or die peacefully and caring for diverse individuals through an improved understanding of their cultural and religious orientations.
The concepts also include the role of culture and values in elevating nurse-patient relationship (Giger, 2016). According to these concepts, nurses learn to relate well with patients after associating with their values and beliefs. The theory outlines the fact that prior to delivery of high-end services, nurses need to treat diverse individuals with respect and love while refraining from acts that may not be in harmony with their cultural and religious orientations.
Conversely, some of the assumptions displayed by the theory include overreliance on patient’s culture, care, values, and separation of caring from curing. In the words of Natan et al. (2015), Leininger states that curing cannot take place in the absence of care and that care is essential in the delivery of medical services. The statement is an assumption because nurses cannot undertake the duty of curing without first demonstrating some level of care to the patients.
Arora (2015) and Grace (2017) elucidate that nurses have to first care for the patients before serving them, a phenomenon that makes the assertion advanced by the theory impractical. Moreover, another assumption that revolves around the issue of care takes effect when the theory explains that it unifies the procedures of nursing. The assumption is evident because nursing is broad and lays lots of attention on the treatment that patients receive.
Remarkably, caring will not be effective if the nurses do not have expertise on the condition experienced by a particular patient. Another assumption that is clear from the theory is the emphasis accorded to culture and values of the patient. Notably, Transcultural Nursing Theory fails to consider the fact that culture and values are diverse across all continents and regions of the world (Ray, 2016). As such, while nurses strive to deliver the best services to the diverse populations, the patients also need to appreciate and embrace the diversities so that they can enhance the overall process of service delivery. Concisely, nursing should not incline on the side of nurses leaving out the patients who also participate in service delivery.
Usefulness of the Theories and Comparison
Needs and Transcultural Nursing Theories are instrumental in the health sector. Scholars at the global, international, and national levels of health cannot downplay the usefulness of the theories in healthcare. The provisions and concepts presented by the theories augment the quality of care accorded by medical practitioners and ensure that the working environment where nurses undertake their duties is favorable. The concepts outlined by the theories which comprise care, good relationship, and empathy are the cornerstones of healthcare and make up the ethical considerations that medical practitioners follow at all times. Ahtisham and Jacoline (2015) allude that care, good relationship, and empathy are vital in the delivery of healthcare. Therefore, it is in order to claim that by advancing the aforementioned provisions and concepts, the theories become useful and practical in healthcare.
Fundamentally, a comparison of the Needs Theory and Transcultural Nursing Theory reveals a number of similarities and differences. The similarities present in the two theories comprise their emphasis on care, quality services, and development of a good nurse-patient relationship. Alligood (2014) claims that while the Needs Theory uses association with patient experiences to champion for improved care and attention, Transcultural Nursing Theory utilizes culture, values, and beliefs to promote the services delivered in medical facilities. A study of the two aforementioned theories confirms that care and nurse-patient relationship are instrumental in elevating the quality of medical attention delivered by nurses.
Consequently, the differences present in the two theories relate to the approaches that they utilize. The Needs Theory emphasizes on a good understanding of patients through the development of good nurse-patient relationship without much focus on their cultural and religious affiliations (Giger, 2016). On the other hand, Transcultural Nursing Theory approaches the issue of nursing from a different perspective. The theory explains that when nurses respect and uphold culture, religion, values, and ideals of patients, the overall quality of healthcare improves an approach that is different from the one held by the Needs Theory.
Examples of Clinical Application and Parsimony
Nurses can successfully apply the Needs and Transcultural Nursing theories in a medical facility. In my clinical setting, Needs Theory plays a vital role in helping nurses relate well with patients. The theory helps nurses in my setting to associate with the feelings that patients go through and, in turn, amplify the quality of services that nurses deliver to them. Using the provisions espoused by the theory, nurses, in my clinical setting will be in good position to deliver services that match patient expectations in all aspects. On the other hand, Transcultural Nursing Theory helps nurses in my clinical setting to identify with the values of patients and successfully deliver services in an amicable manner. Through the approach utilized by the theory, patients and nurses develop a good relationship by understanding their values, religious and cultural orientations. Therefore, application of Needs and Transcultural Nursing Theories is crucial in my clinical setting as they play an important role.
Consequently, the theories clearly elucidate the issue of parsimony. The concepts of the two aforementioned theories compel nurses to ensure that the overall process of treatment is swift and high end. By compelling medical practitioners to practice swift and high-end service delivery, the theories help in directing healthcare towards an eventuality of minimized cost and informed medical arrangements. When nurses develop a good relationship with patients and associate with their experiences, they effectively provide advice that helps them plan their treatment plans in line with their purchasing power without compromising the quality of services that they receive. In the modern times when the cost of medical services is soaring in countries such as the United States, it is important to have theories that focus on minimizing the expenditure incurred by patients whenever they visit medical facilities. Therefore, Needs Theory and Transcultural Nursing Theory are among the instrument theories that help in the execution of parsimony in healthcare facilities.
Conclusion
Nurses play an important role in healthcare facilities. To improve the quality of services that nurses deliver, the essay examined the relevance of Needs and Transcultural Nursing theories in healthcare. It is clear that the theories have a place in the healthcare sector because their concepts facilitate efficiency in the delivery of medical services. The foundations, concepts, and provisions of the theories are pivotal for medical practitioners because their application improves the overall quality of services that patients receive.
References
Ahtisham, Y., & Jacoline, S. (2015). Integrating nursing theory and process into practice; Virginia’s Henderson Need Theory. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(2), 11-38.
Alligood, M. (2014). Nursing theorists and their work. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Arora, S. (2015). Integration of nursing theories in practice. International Journal of Nursing Science Practice and Research, 1(1), 8-12.
Englebright, J., Aldrich, K., & Taylor, C. (2014). Defining and incorporating basic nursing care actions into the electronic health record. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 46(1), 50-57.
Grace, P. (2017). Nursing ethics and professional responsibility in advanced practice. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Giger, J. (2016). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Natan, M., Ehrenfeld, M., & Itzhaki, M. (2015). Israel: Applications of transcultural nursing theory. Conceptual Models of Nursing: Global Perspectives, 1(1), 148-170.
Ray, M. (2016). Transcultural caring dynamics in nursing and health care. Philadelphia: FA Davis.