Introduction
Personal nursing philosophy is a very important concept for any practicing nurse. It encapsulates one’s core values and objectives in the profession. When a practitioner defines their beliefs, they gain a stronger connection to their views. It assists one to mold themselves into a professional by enabling them to acquire guidance on the skills and specializations to enhance their career. Therefore, a nursing philosophy will play a role in any provider’s occupation. Most physicians have developed theories out of their personal viewpoints. These concepts are currently used as the policies or processes offered or implemented as the foundation for nursing practice.
A nursing theory can be defined as a set of logical notions utilized as explanatory principles. They can further be applied to explain, predict, or control events. The philosophies provide guidance on the four metaparadigms, which include person, environment, health, and nursing. This paper will focus on the Transcultural Nursing theory, which was developed by Madeleine Leninger. It states that consideration of belief systems and practices is important to understand the similarities and differences in patient groups.
Method
The method employed in this paper is a systematic literature review. It is a type of qualitative method where a comprehensive and transparent search is conducted across multiple databases and gray literature (Linnenluecke et al., 2020). A systematic review includes discovery, examination, and reporting of pertinent information within certain timescales. The search was majorly done on Google Scholar or YouTube and utilized two keywords: transcultural theory and Madeleine Leninger.
Search Results
From Google Scholar’s first search using keywords ‘transcultural theory’ and ‘Madeleine Leninger’ 4820 results were found. The outcomes were sieved to those published from five years ago, from which 1240 articles were obtained. Those on the first and second page were selected which yielded 20 journals. They were sieved by language, and those published in non-English language were eliminated; 15 articles remained for examination. These ones were then skimmed using the content on the abstract, and five articles were selected for the review. The search from YouTube gave out three videos, which were considered after a thorough examination of the content.
Discussion
Identify a Nursing Theorist
The chosen theorist for this paper is Madeleine Leninger, an American citizen born in Nebraska, United States. Her work is considered one of the nursing sciences, which is currently an essential component of practice in the healthcare industry. According to Ray (2019), she was brought up in a family of seven and attended Sutton High School, where she graduated. She later joined the U.S. Nursing Army Corps and did a basic nursing program. Madeleine’s aunt suffered from a heart condition, which inspired her to take nursing as a course (Ray, 2019). She was admitted to the faculty of nursing as a cadet to increase the number of nurses trained to cater to nursing needs during World War I.
Dr. Leininger acquired a diploma in nursing from St. Anthony’s Hospital School of Nursing and later on a bachelor’s degree in the same from Mount St. Scholastica College and Creighton University. According to Alex (2020, 2 02), she worked as a clinical specialist after the Second World War, where she realized that the recurring behavioral patterns of children were influenced by their cultural backgrounds. It was then that she recognized the importance of cultural and care knowledge in the field of nursing, filling a crucial nursing practice.
After studying the existing theories for close to 10 years, Madeleine was convinced that the available ones were inadequate to discover the relationship between culture and care as a necessity for overall wellness (Xu Nursing NG, 2020). She later made a trip to New Guinea in the 1960s, where she gained a profound understanding of the importance of nurses in comprehending the cultures and backgrounds of their patients to deliver quality care. She developed transcultural nursing theory in 1974 (Ray, 2019). Her contributions to transcultural nursing are renowned globally. The video in Figure 2 explains Madeleine’s biography and her theory.
Description of the Theory
Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory is also known as Culture Care Theory. It explains the importance of comprehending and appreciating diverse cultures in relation to healthcare practices (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2019). The postulate points out the significance of providing care that aligns with the cultural values and health-illness context of individuals. She suggests that different communities have distinct caring behaviors and unique perspectives on health and illness which are based on their beliefs and practices (Turkina, 2020). Madeleine first defined the concept in 1995 as a field of study and practice that focuses on understanding and providing culturally sensitive care to individuals or groups from different cultural backgrounds. The practices are applicable in promoting health and well-being and assisting individuals in overcoming various challenges, such as illness or death, within the context of their own cultural beliefs and values.
Leigninger created the theory out of her vast experience of working with various communities in providing healthcare. She worked with many organizations as an educator, writer, and consultant (Ray, 2019). In addition, she had several academic qualifications in nursing and anthropology and also traveled to New Guinea, where she experienced great culture shock. These experiences pushed her to develop the Transcultural Nursing Theory to provide an outline of how healthcare practitioners can use a patient’s culture and background to provide effective care (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2019). The four metaparadigms, as covered in the theory, include a person who recognizes that everyone is a product of some beliefs and systems and thus requires congruent care (McFarland, 2021). On the other hand, culture forms an environment for a person receiving care, hence influencing the outcomes of the treatment.
The theory encompasses three key concepts: care, culture care, and cultural care universality. Care refers to the conceptual phenomenon of providing assistance, support, or empowerment to others in order to enhance their well-being (Aubry, 2021). It involves addressing evident or anticipated needs to improve the human condition.
Cultural care entails the subjective and objective acquisition of values, beliefs, and patterns of lifeways that aid, support, facilitate, or empower individuals or groups in maintaining their well-being (Aubry, 2021). On the other hand, cultural care universality encompasses the shared overarching definitions of care that are observed across various cultures (Aubry, 2021). These definitions encompass patterns, values, and symbols that serve as assistive means to help individuals.
Relation of Nursing Theory to Personal Practice
My personal philosophy is the provision of nursing care to everyone in a way that resonates with their cultural values, beliefs, and practices. It ensures an effective treatment that takes care of the overall well-being of an individual unlike imposing therapy practices that do not work for them nor understand. Therefore, Transcultural Nursing Theory resonates well with my personal nursing philosophy.
A nurse may choose this theory because it emphasizes the significance of cultural competence and the integration of cultural factors into nursing. To deliver effective and patient-centered care in today’s healthcare environments, nurses must recognize and accept diversity. By adopting Leininger’s idea, healthcare providers can improve their capacity to give culturally appropriate care and form meaningful connections with their patients.
Incorporating the theory’s main metaparadigm necessitates numerous critical methods. Firstly, practitioners must aim to learn and respect each individual’s distinct cultural viewpoints and experiences and then personalize their treatment accordingly. Secondly, the current healthcare system is significantly influenced by the growing aspects of folklore, which requires caregivers to take into consideration the facets of social, physical, and cultural values when providing the necessary treatment.
Thirdly, evaluations, therapies, and health education should all incorporate custom elements in order to customize care according to each patient’s specific background. Lastly, nurses must seek to increase their knowledge and understanding of the diverse cultural norms. This will help them gain the appropriate skills to provide nursing care that is sensitive to the community’s beliefs.
Importance of Having a Personal Philosophy
A personal philosophy is very important to a nurse in several ways. Firstly, it ensures purpose and direction by helping one to define principles and values within his/ her profession (Smith et al., 2021). Thus, it directs them on the right way to make decisions and act in a manner that aligns with their principles. Secondly, it promotes critical thinking by encouraging self-examination to ensure alignment with the ethical and moral aspects of the practice (Smith et al., 2021).
Thirdly, it facilitates professional growth by ensuring continuous self-reflection and learning. Lastly, it ensures accountability by ensuring continuous referral to the guiding principles (Smith et al., 2021). One is able to monitor his progress in terms of adhering to the set principles and goals and make adjustments accordingly.
I am currently demonstrating my personal nursing philosophy in my practice. I have been focusing on awareness and attitude as major components of culturally competent care. For instance, I recently experienced culture shock when dealing with one particular patient who did not believe in going to the hospital. He believes that God is the soul healer, and instead of seeking care in the hospitals, he does so in the church. This has improved my level of cultural awareness regarding that specific bias. It has triggered me to engage in a process of actively evaluating my heightened awareness and personal belief systems.
Conclusion
In general, personal nursing philosophies are guidelines that enable nurses to set standards for themselves and live by those standards. It helps one to lay down some principles on how they will interact with the patients, families, and other caregivers. Furthermore, it ensures an ethical, competent, and science-driven nursing practice. Therefore, having such an aspect of belief is crucial for facilitating effective care practices necessary for proper healthcare outcomes. Madeleine has made great contributions to the field of healthcare provision by promoting transcultural values. Her theory has provided a basis on how to ensure a nursing system that considers cultural differences and similarities.
References
Alex Y. (2021). NUR391 Dr. Leininger/transcultural nursing presentation [YouTube]. Web.
Aubry (2021). Madeleine Leininger [YouTube]. Web.
Linnenluecke, M. K., Marrone, M., & Singh, A. K. (2020). Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses. Australian Journal of Management, 45(2), 175-194. Web.
McFarland, M. R., & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2019). Leininger’s theory of culture care diversity and universality: An overview with a historical retrospective and a view toward the future. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30(6), 540-557. Web.
Nursing Theory. (2023). Madeleine Leininger – nursing theorist. Web.
Ray, M. A. (2019). Remembering: My story of the founder of transcultural nursing, the late Madeleine M. Leininger, PhD, LHD, DS, RN, CTN, FAAN, FRCNA (Born: July 13, 1925; Died: August 10, 2012). Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30(5), 429-433. Web.
Smith, M. C., Chinn, P. L., & Nicoll, L. H. (2021). Knowledge for nursing practice: Beyond evidence alone. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 35(1), 7-23. Web.
Turkina, N. V. (2020). Transcultural nursing models and theories by Madeleine Leininger. Meditsinskaya sestra, 22(4), 17-22. Web.
Xu Nursing NG (2020). Madeleine Leininger- transcultural nursing theory [YouTube]. Web.