Transcultural Nursing Model by Leininger
Nursing has changed in a variety of ways over the years, but one of the most important transitions has been related to the increasing cultural diversity of the American population. Both health care workers and patients are now more diverse than ever in terms of ethnicity, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and languages. Therefore it is important for nurses to understand how to work effectively with other cultures that they might not be entirely familiar with.
The Transcultural Nursing model, originated by Madeleine Leininger, provides an important framework for the modern nursing profession. The model was designed for the purpose of providing culturally specific care. Transcultural Nursing is intended to focus on the importance of individuality while at the same time helping nurses successfully interact with others of various ethnic, religious and social backgrounds and beliefs.
In 1995, Leininger defined the model as follows: "a formal area of study and practice in nursing focused upon comparative holistic cultural care, health, and illness patterns of individuals and groups with respect to differences and similarities in cultural values, beliefs, and practices with the goal to provide culturally congruent, sensitive, and competent nursing care to people of diverse cultures."
When Leininger developed this model over five decades ago, America was just beginning to reflect cultural diversity. The concept of transcultural nursing was originated as a means of identifying both diverse and universal cultural variables found among different groups of people. The model has since been used at length to help nurses improve the care of patients from different cultural backgrounds by providing formal educational programs.
As this 50+ year old model demonstrates, diversity has always been an important issue in nursing, however now more than ever before, it has become a front burner topic. This is true not only because of the increasing level of diversity in America, but also because it is clear that a true understanding of cultural diversity is vital at all levels of the nursing practice.
An ethnocentric approach to nursing is ineffective in meeting the needs of diverse cultural groups of clients, and conversely, awareness of cultural differences can be extremely effective. The transcultural theoretical approach by Leininger sets the stage for the nurse as one who understands and empathizes with different value systems; will be flexible and adaptable in meeting the wider socioeconomic realities confronting people of all types; and understands and is sympathetic to alternative views.
