Discussion: Debate on the Application of Nursing Theories

This discussion post presents a debate on nursing theories, focusing on Madeleine Leininger's Transcultural Nursing Theory. The student's post emphasizes the importance of cultural diversity in nursing practice, advocating for tailored care that respects patients' cultural values and beliefs. The student highlights the theory's relevance in the modern healthcare system, particularly in the USA, which is made up of diverse cultural backgrounds. The response to the teacher's question further supports the application of Leininger's theory, stressing the need for culturally competent practitioners who prioritize caring and effective communication to meet patients' physical, social, spiritual, and psychological needs. The post underscores the theory's value for nursing students in developing the necessary skills for a diverse healthcare environment.

Running head: DEBATE ON NURSING THEORIES 1
Debate on Nursing Theories
Name
Institution

DEBATE ON NURSING THEORIES 2
Debate on Nursing Theories
My Post
Nursing is a fully-fledged profession with its distinct schools of thought and philosophies
that were created and propounded by various philosophers. The theories and philosophies are
applicable in nursing because they help in defining and expounding knowledge in different
situations. That is why all the nursing practitioners do apply these theories whenever attending to
the patients. Without them, it might not be possible for a nurse to effectively operate because
information from the various schools of thought and philosophies help in providing a framework
upon which nursing practice is based.
Madeleine Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing Theory is one of the outstanding theories of
nursing that have been in use for many years. As its name suggests, the theory was developed by
Madeleine Leininger who, in 1978, came up with the idea of cultural diversity in nursing.
According to this theory, nursing care should be flexible and tailored towards meeting the
cultural needs of each and every patient regardless of their background (Halter, Grund, Fridline,
See, Young, & Reece, 2015). The theorist was convinced that a healthcare practitioner can only
participate in the curing of a patient if the care given is congruent with the cultural values,
beliefs, and practices of the patient. a practitioner should respect the health-related cultural
values of a patient because it determines the attitude, perception, and understanding as far as
healthcare is concerned.
Teacher’s Response to me
I would like to begin by commending you for choosing to discuss about Madeleine
Leininger. Actually, Madeleine Transcultural Nursing Theory is one of the most significant

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theoretical frameworks which have positively contributed towards the flourishing of the nursing
profession. I fully-agree with you for saying that this theory is important ad should be applied by
the current-day nurses. The theorist dwelled on the role of caring in the curing and healing
process. This particular concept can also be of significance to us because it teaches about the role
of caring in the facilitation of the recovery process. From this point, we can learn that the nurses
should be actively involved in the healing process. However, for this to take place as expected,
the nurse should be ready to adopt a therapeutic approach because it focuses on the patient as the
main player in the whole process. Therefore, in the future, we will have to be caring (Holland,
2017). Meaning, we will take our time to create a favorable environment that can accommodate
all the patients without caring about their diversities. Hence, in our efforts to provide such a
service to our patients, we will always strive to be caring practitioners who care so much about
the feelings of the patients and use our communication skills to understand and listen to them.
Having said all these, I would like to conclude by asking: What are the practicalities of the
Madeleine Transcultural Nursing Theory in the modern-day linical setting in the country?
My Response to the Teacher
I would like to thank you for the kind words you give regarding my post. Coming to your
question, it is my pleasure to point out that Madeleine Transcultural Nursing Theory is still
applicable today. In fact, it is now, when we need it more than any other time in the past.
Madeleine’s philosophy is relevant today because its use can leave an important mark in the
country’s healthcare system. The idea of cultural inclusivity is worth because it can enhance the
process of attaining health equality and equity in the USA. The theory should, therefore, be
applied by all the nurses because it touches on an important issue-cultural diversity, which has
become of great concern to the Americans (Shen, 2015). As a large country, USA is made up of

DEBATE ON NURSING THEORIES 4
people from diverse cultural backgrounds. It might not be possible for a conservative nurse (who
only values his or her culture) to attend to patients from other backgrounds because of a cultural
conflict that might erupt. However, there can be an effective healthcare service-delivery in an
environment where a practitioner values and respects the patient’s cultural values (McFarland, &
Wehbe-Alamah, 2018). Such an environment creates a satisfaction that every patient needs
because it is accommodative and supportive to everyone irrespective of their backgrounds.
Madeleine’s theory also remains relevant because it addressed in the theory is that the
caring is an important aspect of nursing. By saying this, the theorist was implying that treatment
is not an incident, but a lengthy process that requires a lot of caring (McFarland, & Wehbe-
Alamah, 014). Meaning, whenever a nurse is entrusted with the life of a patient, the nurse should
take the necessary measures to provide a holistic care exclusively aimed at meeting all the
physical, social, spiritual, and psychological needs of a patient (Lor, Crooks, & Tluczek, 2016).
A nurse who is committed to delivering a quality care to a patient should provide a therapeutic
designed to cure the patient effectively. To provide such a therapeutic care, a nurse should
always strive to e an effective communicator, who listens to and respects the autonomy of the
patient.
All these ideas should be applied by all the healthcare practitioners who are committed to
the delivery of culturally competent healthcare services to their patients. The theory is, hence,
appropriate for us as students because it has lots of lessons that can enlighten and equip us with
the necessary skills that we will use when we join the nursing profession. The idea of trans-
cultural nursing is appropriate for us because we should be culturally-competent practitioners.
The emphasis that Madeleine put on cultural values and beliefs should not be ignored by us
because if we apply it in our day-to-day practice, we might end up becoming competent

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professionals who discharge their duties as expected (McFarland, & Wehbe-Alamah, 2018). The
idea resonates with us because we are in a diverse nation where there are people from different
cultural diversities. Hence, for us to succeed in our nursing practice, we must adopt a
multicultural approach because it will make us flexible enough to serve all the patients and
satisfy their needs irrespective of their cultural diversities.

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References
Halter, M., Grund, F., Fridline, M., See, S., Young, L., & Reece, C. (2015). Transcultural self-
efficacy perceptions of baccalaureate nursing students. Journal of Transcultural Nursing,
26(3), 327-335.
Holland, K. (2017). Cultural awareness in nursing and health care: an introductory text. New
York: CRC Press.
Lor, M., Crooks, N., & Tluczek, A. (2016). A proposed model of person-, family-, and culture-
centered nursing care. Nursing outlook, 64(4), 352-366.
McFarland, M. R., & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2014). Leininger's culture care diversity and
universality. New York: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
McFarland, M. R., & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2018). Leininger's Transcultural Nursing:
Concepts, Theories, Research & Practice. new York: McGraw Hill Professional.
Shen, Z. (2015). Cultural competence models and cultural competence assessment instruments in
nursing: a literature review. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 26(3), 308-321.