Madeline Leninger is a renowned figure in nursing remembered for her contribution and dedication to the profession. Leininger’s Culture Care theory is based on the idea that culturally compatible care, customized for a specific segment of society and based on clear cultural values, results in improved patient outcomes. It was introduced as a workable framework on how best to cater for the needs of communities in society’s fringes that are often overlooked due to fundamental cultural differences (Nemec & Carmichael, 2014).
Addressing this challenge was, therefore, expected to improve the accessibility of clinical staff as a precursor to an overall improvement in the quality of care provided within such institutions. Furthermore, patients would also be given a unique opportunity to interact directly with clinical staff in a bid to foster strong interpersonal relationships which play a central role in care. It is also noteworthy to acknowledge that the theory assumes that care is an integral aspect of nursing, care improves practitioner’s understanding of best practices, and an element of nursing as a humanistic and transcultural practice. The theory assumes that care is one of the most important aspects of the nursing profession and should never be disregarded. Similarly, it is also assumed that culture care is important in allowing clinical staff to gain a clear understanding of standard care procedures.
Another assumption is based on nursing being a humanistic and transcultural practice hence the importance of care to the nursing profession. The implications of the Culture Care theory are far reaching, especially when playing the advanced nursing role of a family nurse. Elements outlined within the theory will play a central role in allowing one to always allow a family’s welfare to take precedence over pressing needs when seeking to realize positive changes in wellbeing.
Several factors influence personal culture, beliefs, and upbringing among clinical staff. For instance, biases adopted within an individual’s personal culture regarding other groups in society, their mannerisms, and role may impair judgment during the provision of care. This then undermines the entire process of service delivery. The inherent belief system adopted by a nursing profession also goes a long way in influencing patient outcomes within healthcare facilities (Chesnay, 2020). Coupled with upbringing, varying worldviews present an overbearing challenge especially since nurses are often expected to abandon them when serving patients.
Differences in cultural and religious background have emerged as major issues worth considering during care due to their impact on care-seeking behavior and adherence to treatment options. This is primarily because culture shapes integral belief systems which ultimately define an individual’s demeanor. For instance, the prevalence of mental health illnesses among the Hispanic community has been linked to a popular axiom that such individuals are afflicted by evil spirits. This is a direct result of socialization, cultural, and religious beliefs adopted within the community. Typically, persons diagnosed with any form of mental illness are likely to be referred to simply as “loco”, spontaneously deeming them “crazy” and a threat to society due to the unpredictable nature of such conditions. It is this type of stigma prevalent in the Hispanic culture and bolstered by the hold Catholicism has on the Latino community currently linked to a significant drop in care-seeking behavior among non-white Hispanic Americans. The cultural stigma attached to mental health conditions and the idea that such individuals may be afflicted by evil spirits further exacerbates the situation, ultimately reducing influencing their decision to seek care.
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