Practicing Nursing within Australian Health Care System

This article discusses the importance of embracing cultural diversity in nursing care, particularly through the transcultural theory. It provides a brief biography of Madeleine Leininger and summarizes her theory, its relevance to modern nursing practice, and its promotion of patient-centered care. The article also includes examples of how the theory can be used in clinical practice and the nursing process.

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PRACTICING NURSING WITHIN AUSTRALIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
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INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION

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Introduction
The ability to embrace cultural diversity in health care particularly the nurses is essential
as portrayed in the transcultural theory. Madeleine Leininger's approach has proven its
usefulness in nursing education and enabling nurses to be models for embracing the victim's
cultural requirements.
A brief biography of Madeleine Leininger
Leininger was born in Sutton, Nebraska on July 13, 1925. She had four brothers and
sisters who she lived in a farm with, and she also graduated from Sutton High School. She
pursued a basic nursing course while in the U.S Army Corps after graduating from high school.
She later continued a career in nursing after her aunt had congenital heart disease. This triggered
her to start a career in nursing (Tributes to Dr. Madeleine Leininger, n.d). She achieved a
diploma from St. Anthony’s Hospital School of Nursing and also a degree from St. Scholastica
College and Creighton University. Later on in Omaha, Nebraska, she opened a mental nursing
service and academic at Creighton University. She got the equivalent of a BSN through her
education in biological sciences, teaching, curriculum and administration in nursing from 1951 to
1954. In 1954, she completed Master of Science in Nursing at Catholic University of America.
She was an associate professor of nursing and also won different awards and honors.
Summarization of the theory, how it relates to modern nursing practice and its importance
She discovered that there was no cultural and care understanding as the component that is
missing to a nurse’s comprehension of the numerous scopes required in patient care to support
wellbeing that led her to begin the theory of Transcultural Nursing. The main focus of this

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theory is to have a vital meaning and results regarding health for individuals with various
cultures or same backgrounds culturally (Transcultural Nursing Society, n.d). It helped in
expanding comprehension and knowledge of different cultures that were not there at that
moment in health care — also, the relationship between the patient and the nurse due to cultural
expectations.
What aspects of nursing care does it promote?
It promotes the patient's views, values, and backgrounds into the nursing procedure. It
focuses on the wellbeing of patients from different cultures. It reflects on the communication
and care shown by the nurse. Her theory is a nursing discipline that is an important part of how
nurses practice in the healthcare field currently. It was based on her and observation while
working as a nurse (Nursing process.org, 2018). It also believes culture is the universal
characteristic of humans. It acts as a guide to the practicing nurses in regards to thinking,
research and practice. The theory guides them to communicate and accommodate the patients by
culturalism. The nurse will gain a sense of cultural competence when caring for the patients.
An example of how you may use the nursing theory and its use in the research literature.
It is essential to ensure that we understand and respect other people’s culture. Nurses
practically interact with the patients all the time hence this theory helps in understanding the
patients’ needs and also ensure that they are safe ( Leininger, 2001). The beneficiary of this
theory is a nurse regarding the patients’ treatment. We remain the largest portion of care
providers globally by learning about different cultures and assisting the patients with their
lifestyle and their environmental context. We have the chance to step out as the most culturally
understanding and sensitive group of the health givers. However, some nurses do not regard

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transactional theory since they don’t have the art exposure of comprehending individuals’
particular principles, views, and caring patterns that in turn affects the quality care ( Sitzman &
Eichelberger, 2004). As student nurses, we are required to handle the patients and understand
their backgrounds. We must assume our roles as caregivers which is important to the healing and
curing of the patient.
Provide one example of how you may use the nursing theory in clinical practice
As student nurses, we must understand that there is an increasing multicultural individual in the
community since we work in different places (Leininger & McFarland, 2002 ). This theory helps
us to determine the relationship between patients’ views and the cause of the sickness and also
the clients’ cultural heritage. We are also able to comprehend the cultural influence, race, and
ethnicity on the emergence of the social-emotional association in regards to health. It will help us
in maintaining a physical, emotional and spiritual self-care program.
There are various types of nurses who work in different areas are united by the nursing
process. It includes; assessment, diagnosis, outcomes, execution, and evaluation. In the
assessment, the nurse uses a systematic and dynamic method in the collection and analysis of
data about the patient. It also encompasses sociocultural, spiritual, psychological, and lifestyle
elements ( Mallela, 2015 ). It is followed by diagnosis whereby the nurses give the judgment
about the response of actual health conditions or requirements. It reflects not only the patient’s
pain but also the pain that has led to other issues such as family conflicts.
After diagnosis, there is an outcome that is based on assessment and diagnosis. In this
process, the nurse sets measurable and attainable short and long-term objectives for the patient
which might encompass bed to chair movement at least thrice daily, adequate nutrition
maintenance by taking small portions of meals or resolving conflicts through counseling. The

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patient's care plan includes assessment information, diagnosis, and objects so that other experts
can gain access to it.
The following process is execution ( Shen, 2015). There is the execution of nursing
process concerning the care plan hence the continuation of care for the hospitalized victim and
also in discharge preparation for discharge must be assured. The last stage is evaluation whereby
the status of the patient and the success of the evaluation nursing care. Also, the care plan is
modified.
In conclusion, the transcultural theory is important to nurses since it helps in promoting
the wellbeing of the patient and the nurses. It has enabled us to understand that people have
different cultures and traditions.

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References
Transcultural Nursing Society. (n.d.). Transcultural Nursing Society. Retrieved
November 29, 2018, from http://www.tcns.org/
Tributes to Dr. Madeleine Leininger. (n.d.). Tributes to Dr. Madeleine Leininger. Retrieved
November 29, 2018, from http://www.madeleine-leininger.com/
Nursing process.org. (2018). The nursing education and career guide. Retrieved from
https://www.nursingprocess.org/Nursing-Process-Steps.html
Leininger, M. (2001). Culture care diversity and universality: A theory of nursing. New
York: National League for Nursing Press
Sitzman, K., & Eichelberger, L. (2004). Understanding the work of nurse theorists: A
creative beginning (pp. 93-99). Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett
Leininger, M., & McFarland, M. (2002). Transcultural nursing: Concepts, theories,
research and practice (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, Medical Pub. Division
Mallela, R. G. (2015). TRANSCULTURAL NURSING THEORY. NARAYANA
NURSING JOURNAL, 4(1), 43-46.

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Shen, Z. (2015). Cultural competence models and cultural competence assessment
instruments in nursing: a literature review. Journal of Transcultural
Nursing, 26(3), 308-321.