Transcultural Nursing
Article Summary
Transcultural nursing is an important feature of healthcare. It ensures that holistic care is given to patients who have different cultural backgrounds, practices, and beliefs. The theory of transcultural nursing was started by Madeline Leininger in 1955. It compares the cultures of individuals around the world to understand their similarities and differences (Ludwig-Beymer, 2022). A transcultural nurse should be aware of the culture, religion, and ethnicity of the patients that they are caring for. They should be well-informed of how their practices and beliefs affect the way that they process and deal with the disease. Well-informed cultural nurses provide care to an individual that is tailored to their beliefs and practices.
The factors that create diversity and make it necessary to practice transcultural nursing are different global cultures, religions, ethnicity, and race. Culture consists of the different values, beliefs, and practices of a particular group that are passed down from one generation to another. Different cultures have different identities and different dressings, and they practice different arts. Ethnicity comes about when a group of people shares a common belief, and they are aware that they belong to the group. Religion is the belief in the existence of a supernatural being that is worshipped by a group of people. Race is the grouping of individuals based on genetic and biological features.
The role of a transcultural nurse is to create a relationship between a patient’s cultural beliefs and practices and the nursing practice by learning about the patient’s cultural, religious, and ethnic background. They also connect patients and their families to other healthcare providers. Transcultural nurses collect information regarding the methods used to treat disease in the patient’s culture and try to integrate them into the nursing treatment plan. Transcultural nurses are also expected to teach patients and their families about the illness that they are suffering from. They support patients and their families culturally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Furthermore, transcultural nurses work in hospitals, outpatient facilities, community health facilities, and international or even global governmental and non-governmental health facilities. To become a transcultural nurse, one must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or an Associate’s degree in nursing. Moreover, they should be a fully registered nurse with a certificate for a course on cultural diversity and cultural competency. They should also have 2400 hours of experience as a registered nurse.
The relevance of transcultural nursing is continuously increasing because the world population is continuing to become more diverse. Diversity should not create a divide, but it should create a strong relationship between nurses and their patients. There are multiple different cultures, and there is no one treatment method that would work for all of them. Therefore, nurses must communicate properly with their patients to uncover their cultures and come up with a suitable treatment plan.
Effective communication by nurses can be achieved by first understanding their own cultural or religious practices, values, attitudes, and beliefs. This understanding will prevent their biases from influencing decision-making when making a treatment plan for their differently cultured patients. It will further prevent cultural conflicts like stereotypes, cultural imposition, or ethnocentrism. Transcultural nurses should also be aware of how the patient communicates. Different cultures convey different messages with eye contact, silence, personal space and distance, touch, and facial expressions. Understanding these different communication methods will have a positive effect on the differently cultured individuals.
Relevance of Transcultural Nursing
Transcultural nursing provides holistic care because it considers the culture of the nurse, the patient, and the environment. It ensures that all the healthcare needs of various patients are met. Healthcare beliefs vary among different cultures. The beliefs are determined by the relationship between the patient and his environment. For instance, some individuals believe they have power over their environment. Others believe they can control their lives. Therefore, they believe they can influence their health status. Other individuals believe that the supernatural is the one who has control over their environment and, therefore, controls their health status. The latter individuals may not be very compliant with treatment. The former individuals will be compliant with treatment. A transcultural nurse acknowledges these contrasting points of view and considers them when making treatment plans for the individuals.
Transcultural nursing impacts my practice in that I have to comprehend and respect my patients’ cultural and religious beliefs, values, and practices. I have to acknowledge that their beliefs and practices influence their attitudes towards disease, understanding of the outcome of the disease, and compliance with treatment. My role is to bridge the gap between nursing practice and the cultural practice of the patient I care for.
I bridge the gap by determining the patient’s cultural health beliefs and practices. I also find their preference for communication. I also determine if the patient has any cultural views about the source of their disease and if there are any cultural treatments they have been using before seeking medical treatment. Additionally, I evaluate the social and economic status of the individual and how it affects his health-seeking behavior. This information is applied when developing and implementing a nursing treatment plan customized to a particular individual’s health and cultural needs. This ensures patient satisfaction and enhances positive treatment outcomes.
References
Ludwig-Beymer, P. (2022). The Role of Transcultural Nurses in the Future of Nursing. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 10436596221095065. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F10436596221095065
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Question 
Locate one scholarly, peer-reviewed research article published within the last 5 years related to transcultural nursing. Attach a PDF copy of the article with the initial post.
Transcultural Nursing
Summarize the article in 500-600 words in the initial post. Do not submit as an attachment, and do not exceed 600 words. Provide your thoughts on the relevance of transcultural nursing and how your practice ( Registered Nurse) may be impacted in 250-300 words. Provide an example, but do not exceed 300 words. Do not exceed 900 words for the initial post.
*My current practice is as a Registered Nurse*