Metaparadigm Concepts of Leininger’s Nursing Theory Evaluation Explicit and Implicit Assumptions (Values/Beliefs) Underlying the Theory

Leininger’s culture care theory describes three of the four metaparadigms of nursing, namely people, nursing, and health. The nurse anthropologist perceives people as beings who have intrinsic capabilities of showing concern about the needs, wellbeing, and sustained being of others (Jeffreys, 2008). According to Leininger, human care is a collective practice that is existent among universally diverse communities. Leininger used the concept to explain why human beings exist in a multiplicity of cultures by their universality nature that prompts them to provide care for each other within diverse cultural settings that have varied needs (Butts & Rich, 2010). As Leininger explains in her theory, nursing is a culture care paradigm that she used to emphasise the importance of cultural congruence. Nurses need to appreciate the knowledge about culture care for the best nursing customs. Finally, she defines health as a condition of an individual or group’s wellbeing that characterises culturally defined values and practices that necessitate everyday activities in socially expressive, valuable, and premeditated ways of life. However, Leininger does not incorporate environment in her culture care theory. Instead, the nurse anthropologist talks about worldviews, social constructions, and societal contexts (Butts & Rich, 2010).

Clarity of the Theory

Statistical findings indicate that the application of transcultural concepts in nursing contexts has improved the health status of many patients who suffer from diverse health conditions (Sagar, 2012). The use of transcultural theory surpasses the wide-ranging human culture due to its universality that has facilitated the development of rounded health practices. Although many nurses have realised the importance of cultural nursing and appreciation of diverse cultures, the theory has failed to provide clarity in various nursing phenomena. Jeffreys (2008) reveals that the theory has sometimes led to the formulation of imprecise clinical decisions, especially where nurses fail to draw clear inferences about cultural congruence. This situation leads to outcome imperceptions pertaining to the valuation of patients. In addition, Leininger’s nursing theory fails to provide a lucid insight into disease symptoms and the processes of administering cure.

Application

How the Theory will Guide Nursing Actions

Leininger’s theory finds its application in a number of nursing occupations in areas such as education, informatics, administration, and/or general nursing practice. In contemporary nursing contexts, nurses have used the culture care theory to describe, explain, predict, and document day-to-day experiences of their patients. The transcultural concept serves as a rationale for gathering valuable information about the correlation between their health and cultural perceptions. Therefore, it guides nurses to establish the best criteria for administering treatment by developing all-inclusive nursing decisions for patients. In addition, the theory has helped nurses develop a multidimensional cultural competence that reinforces their roles and confidence of handling patients who suffer from different health conditions (Butts & Rich, 2010).

Applicability of the Theory in My Nursing Occupation as a Clinical Staff Nurse

Leininger’s Culture Care Theory finds its applicability in my nursing occupation. I serve as a clinical staff nurse in the Respiratory Care Unit (RCU) at Jackson Health System where we deal with patients who suffer from tuberculosis. Caring is a crucial concept to the delivery of holistic nursing services to tuberculosis patients. Our nursing niche receives worldwide patients from culturally diverse regions such as Florida, Haiti, Thai, and South America among other regions. Apparently, nurses also come from diverse world cultures. Therefore, there is always an unending need for our nurses to understand the knowledge about cultural diversity to facilitate the recovery of clients by virtue of universality. Entirely, patients in the RCU rely on nurses. They expect the best care practices for them to regain their health. As a clinical stuff nurse, I use Leininger’s transcultural nursing premise to discover the perceptions of patients towards tuberculosis. The results from the concept help me draw central conclusions that relate the recovery of the patients to their cultural backgrounds (Jeffreys, 2008).

Conclusion

The integration of anthropological concepts in nursing contexts shifted the nursing standpoint in the past half a century. The improvement of Leininger’s culture care theory and other conceptual frameworks have made transculture become a universally accepted practice in many health institutions. Practically, culture care practices open up a clear path for communication between nur