Transcultural nursing in Australian nursing curricula

As a result of the fact that Australia is a multicultural society with many people who come from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB), the objective of the present study was to discuss the extent to which transcultural nursing education is incorporated into undergraduate nursing curricula. A survey was undertaken to determine the availability of nursing modules for undergraduate nursing students through Australian university websites on "transcultural nursing" or related modules. Although the inclusion of these modules into nursing education provide an opportunity for nurses to perceive and respond to different patient behaviors in multicultural societies, it is not sufficient to understand the complexity of the health care needs of a multicultural society. The survey findings suggest that many universities have not included transcultural nursing modules in their nursing curricula. To address this problem, more transcultural nursing modules need to be introduced into nursing curricula and nursing academics need to refine their attitudes about the importance of cultural aspects of patient care within nursing education.     

Transcultural nursing care of Arab Muslims

Nursing care of the Arab Muslim client can be extremely rewarding providing the nurse is knowledgeable about important features of the culture. Knowledge of the complex social structure, world view and cultural context features is critical in promoting a sense of care for these clients. The centrality of religion and the family are closely interrelated and reflect many aspects of health care. This article has presented an overview of some of these features. The importance of culturological assessment for each client and family cannot be over emphasized, since cultural background, education and degree of acculturation will lead to variation in these patterns. The use of Leininger's theory and modes of nursing interventions can be most helpful as a basis for decision-making processes related to care of the Arab Muslim client. Only through knowledge, respect and sensitivity can nurses be effective in meeting the goals of the theory which is culturally congruent care to all clients of diverse cultures.     

Transcultural nursing course in Tanzania, Africa

A transcultural nursing course in Tanzania was offered in fall 2010 at Williston State College, located in North Dakota. Madeleine Leininger's Culture Care: Diversity and Universality Theory (Principles of Developing Cultural Competence) was the framework used for the experience. The course provided nursing students the opportunity to learn about the culture, health, and illness beliefs of Tanzanians; their values and practices; the prevalence of HIV/AIDS; and the differences and similarities between the healthcare systems, hospice/palliative care, and home visits in Tanzania as compared to the United States.     

Transcultural nursing assessment: a method for advancing nursing practice

Today a new generation of nurses with different cultural insights and a deeper appreciation of human life and values are developing a sensitivity for culturally appropriate individualized care. Although literature on clinical approaches in cultural diverse situations is mushrooming, relatively few theories on transcultural nursing provide a systematic method for comprehensive nursing assessment, which is necessary for both the nursing practitioner and the researcher to provide appropriate nursing care tailored for each client. Below an outline of the areas that need to be assessed when working with clients from multicultural populations.     

An intercultural nursing perspective on autonomy

This article is based on an empirical study regarding ethical challenges in intercultural nursing. The focus is on autonomy and disclosure. Autonomy is a human capacity that has become an important ethical principle in nursing. Although the relationship between autonomy and patients' possibly harmful choices is discussed, the focus is on 'forced' autonomy. Nurses seem to equate respect with autonomy; it seems to be hard to cope with the fact that there are patients who voluntarily undergo treatment but who actively participate neither in the treatment offered nor in making choices regarding that treatment. Nurses' demand for patients to be autonomous may in some cases jeopardize the respect, integrity and human worth that the ethical principle of autonomy is meant to ensure. Even though respect for a person's autonomy is also respect for the person, one's respect for the person in question should not depend on his or her capacity or aptitude to act autonomously. Is autonomy necessarily a universal ethical principle? This article negates this question and, through the issues of culture, individualism versus collectivism, first- and second-order autonomy, communication and the use of family interpreters, and respect, an attempt is made to explain why.     

Transcultural nursing and a care management partnership project

Transcultural nursing and a care management partnership project
This paper aims to illustrate how Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality has influenced the research process of a study that emerged from a care management partnership between Canadian nursing teachers and Tunisian nurses. The purpose of the study was to investigate the meanings of care as viewed by university hospital-based Tunisian nurses. The qualitative analysis of data gathered through observation-participation and interviews highlights recurrent patterns and reveals three major professional care themes. For Tunisian nurses care means to secure the patient's cooperation towards the medical regimen within established rules in die hospital; to contribute to curing the patient by using current technology as well as by maintaining their technical skills and improving their medical knowledge; to take charge of the patient to assist the physician in treating disease. This study showed that Tunisian nurses emphasize curing rather than widely shared community values such as interdependence, intercommunication, understanding, presence and responsibility for odiers. Discussion of die study's findings draws upon the perspective provided by Freire's Oppressed Group Theory. In order to promote cultural congruence within the Care Management Partnership Project in Tunisia, the tfiree predicted modes of care within Leininger's theory guide die decisions and actions for future nursing research and partnership activities.