Madeleine Leininger Transcultural Nursing Theory

Discuss the applicability of the theory of culture care diversity and universality to discover nursing knowledge and provide culturally congruent care. Take into consideration the current trends of consumers of health care, cultural diversity factors, and changes in medical and nursing school curricula. The following are examples of trends you may use as a thread to start your discussion:

a. The importance of transcultural nursing knowledge in an increasingly diverse world

b. The growth of lay support groups to provide information and sharing of experiences and support for clients, families, and groups experiencing chronic, terminal, or life-threatening illnesses or treatment modalities from diverse or similar cultures

c. Cultural values, beliefs, health practices, and research knowledge in undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula across the life span

d. Inclusion of alternative or generic care in nursing curricula, such as medicine men, Native American healers, curers, and herbalists in the Southwest and selected substantiated Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine methods shown to be effective for the treatment of both acute and chronic diseases

e. The increased access to health care information from the Internet and the growing number of books, audio recordings, and video recordings published on health maintenance, alternative medicine, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and over-the-counter medications and preparations

f. Spiraling health care costs; use of health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations (PPO), or internal plan provider lists; lack of health insurance; increased reliance on self-diagnosis, treatment, and care; and increased availability of diagnostic kits for home-based self-diagnostic testing

g. Problems related to cultural conflicts, stress, pain, and cultural imposition practices

h. Increased suspiciousness and mistrust or distrust of cultural, religious, and political groups because of increased terrorist activities worldwide