Theory of Culture Care: Diversity and Universality
Summary
Madeleine Leininger contributed to the progression of nursing with her innovative
conceptual framework and theoretical development of cultural awareness. Leininger’s research
resulted in the birth of transcultural nursing with a focus on improvements in nurse-client
relationship outcomes when culturally congruent holistic care is present (Sitzman &
Eichelberger, 2015). Her explicit theory is one of middle range upper level with the basic tenets
offered as care being the essence of nursing as well as a direct action and cultural care and
sensitivity as the understanding and incorporation of values and beliefs of the patient to
positively influence health or illness. Further tenets presented are diversity as respect for
practices within cultures and universality as acceptable practices across cultures (McEwen &
Wills, 2014). Leininger accentuated the cultural awareness of the nurse combined with co-
participation in decision making with the client as necessary for delivery of meaningful and well-
received care (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2015). Although implicit, she thoroughly presented the
detrimental impact of cultural impositioning to nursing.
Evaluation
Social significance.
The importance of a theory to society is appraised by its ability to meet the criterion of
significance (Fawcett & Garity, 2009). The use of this model for research in cultural humility is
socially significant. The general public is culturally diverse. Nursing care receptive of cultural
differentiations without assumptions improves health outcomes of the vulnerable (Horvat, Horey,
Romios, & Kis-Rigo, 2014).