Theory paper

NURS 306 Theory foundation of professional nursing practice

Purpose of Assignment
This assignment is designed to allow the student an opportunity to complete an in-depth analysis
of a nursing theory/model. Analysis of the theory coupled with application to a clinical scenario
is intended to demonstrate the relevance of nursing theories to professional practice.
Student Approach to Assignment
I approached this assignment by selecting a specific nursing theory, describing its the benefits
and limitations, and discussing a nursing journal article related to this theory. I also gave an issue
from my clinical practice to examine how the theory guides my action. Finally, I explained the
value of this theory to my own personal philosophy of nursing.
Reason for Inclusion of this Assignment in the Portfolio
This theory assignment is important to include in my Portfolio because Leining’s theory
contributed to my understanding of culture care diversity and universality. This transcultural
nursing theory represents me as a nurse because I provide patients with culturally congruent
nursing care to fits with individual’ values, beliefs, and ways of life. My paper represents my
strengths of giving culturally competent patient care.
Nursing Practice
 Implements nursing care practices as appropriate to provide holistic health care to diverse
populations across the lifespan
In my paper, I had an example of taking care of a newborn baby from an Amish family at the
hospital. Nurses respected their culture and gave nursing care that met the Amish family’s
preference, such as accepting the family’s refusal to take pictures of their baby based on Amish
cultural beliefs. I also had a clinical practice issue when I took care of a 50-year-old Latino-
American patient. I had to learned to implement the nursing care practice as appropriate to the
culturally congruent care for the Latino population. For example, I learned that I should teach
and ask questions to the patient with her husband at her bedside because the husband is the one
to make decisions in many the Latino families. Also, I should wait to provide care after the
patient has met all her family members instead of asking them to leave the patient’s room
because the practice of family involvement is strong in the Latino population.

Communication
 Adapts communication methods to patients with special needs

In my paper, I mentioned the communication block between the patient and nurses related to
language barriers. Nurses need to adapt the appropriated communication methods with those in
the diverse population. For example, Mandarin is the Chinese language and is a totally different
language from the American English. When nurses use culturally competent care, we should not
only sensitive to patient preference in health care, but we also need to provide a familiar
language, which they are easily able to understand and communicate through interpreters from
the hospital or using translation devices. Patients who do not speak English often feel anxious
and lost in the same way a hearing -impaired patient does.

Research
 Differentiates between descriptive nursing literature and published reports of nursing
research
In my paper, I had descriptive nursing literature written by Gibson, described the author’s
personal transcultural nursing experience in taking care of a critical ill newborn at a hospital and
interacting with his Amish family. The author used descriptive writing to create sensory detail in
seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching to bring the reader’s attention to the story’s setting.
However, publish reports of nursing research is peer-reviewed and evidence-based articles by
using quantitative and qualitative methods to answer questions and solve problems. Published
reports on research are science based and use a survey with questions related to patients’ culture
or nurses’ culture.

Culture
 Articulates an understanding of how human behavior is affected by culture, race,
religion, gender, lifestyle, and age
In my paper, I have learned the importance of Leininger’s theory about transcultural practice
in nursing, which help me to understand that people who come from other countries react
differently because of their own culture, beliefs, and lifestyle. For example, the Amish family
refused to have their child’s picture taken based on their religion beliefs. In another culture,
gender was a consideration, when the Latino-American female patient allowed her husband
to make decisions for her because the man is the decision maker in the family.

 Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and how these
beliefs influence an individual’s reactions to the illness experience and end of life

In my paper, I have learned that people making health decisions rely on their personal and
culture beliefs and practices. For example, the Amish families manage for their children’s
illness based on their culture background which is affected by their experience. They prefer
to use home remedies rather than the healthcare services. They rely on the Amish community
and these home remedies to heal illnesses.

 Integrates knowledge of cultural diversity in performing nursing interventions

In my paper, I learned from my clinical practice issue, that I had practiced with insufficient
knowledge of culturally congruent care. For example, I could have known more about the
Latino culture before I met the patient. I could have had an understanding Latinos share a
strong heritage with families and religion. I could provide the nursing intervention in
discussing medical states involving families and avoided eye contact during communication
in order to respect their culture preference. Nurses gain more by integrating knowledge of
cultural diversity when performing interventions; then less conflicts with patients and
families will exist.