Madeleine Leineger Madeleine Leininger's place of birth was Sutton, Nebraska. She earned her Ph.D. in social and cultural anthropology in 1965, from Washington University, Seattle. In her initial years of working, she was a nurse. This was where she gained insight on how important it is to care. Frequent appreciative statements from care patients inspired her to center her attention on care; she realized that 'caring' is a fundamental part of nursing. In the 50s, she worked in a guidance home for children. Madeline discovered that the recurrent habits among children seemed to have been inspired by culture. She stated that nurses had no knowledge about care and culture, and this led to their ignorance on the numerous components needed in caring for patients to support healing, wellness and compliance. This knowledge led to the introduction of transcultural nursing; a phenomenon and construct based on nursing care, in the 50s. Madeline began the movement for transcultural nursing in education practice and research (Kathleen Sitzman MS & Dr. Lisa Wright Eichelberger).

2. Short Biography

The theory of Transcultural Nursing was initially stated in Madeline's 'Culture Care Universality and Diversity', which was then published in the year 1991. The theory, however, has its origin back in the 50s. The theory-related study, as well as how the theory is applied is explained in edition 3 of the theory, which was published in the year 2002. The theory was meant to support provision of care with regard to the patients' cultural values, practices and beliefs. Later, in the 60s, Madeline came up with the phrase 'culturally congruent patient care', which she said is the main aim of the transcultural practice of nursing. The practice deals with the cultural changes that affect the relationship between nurses and their clients. Since the practice was centered exclusively on this component of nursing, there was need for another theory to look into and explain the results of this kind of patient care. Madeline creatively came up with another theory, the 'Culture Care Theory: Universality and Diversity'; which was aimed at giving culturally congruent overall care (Kathleen Sitzman MS & Dr. Lisa Wright Eichelberger).

3. Categorizing the Theory (Mcewen & Wills classification)

From the classification by Willis and Mcewen, the theory of Transcultural Nursing is in the Middle level. Middle range types of theories are those from nursing models to the more concrete, circumscribed notions (practice theories). These kinds of theories are significantly specific, and they include a few concepts...

They include relatively concrete ideas that are operationally clear and relatively solid propositions; which can be tested empirically (Melanie Mcewen & Evelyn M. Wills, 2011).
However, Madeline asserts that this theory cannot fall under the grant category since it includes certain dimensions for evaluation of an overall picture. In addition, it is comprehensive and holistic. For this reason, there have been more applications of nursing practice than traditionally expected of reductionist, middle-range theories (Kathleen Sitzman MS & Dr. Lisa Wright Eichelberger).

4. Assumptions underlying the theory

There are many specific assumptions within the theory which are in support of its premises as well as the use of Madeline of the words stated above. The assumptions form the philosophical foundation of the Culture Care Theory: University and Diversity. They make the general focus clearer, deeper, and more meaningful, hence achieving cultural competence in nursing care. These ideas have been derived from Madeline's work and grew faster than other nurses' application in the modern world, who have now endorsed the theory as well as these ideas (Kathleen Sitzman MS & Dr. Lisa Wright Eichelberger).

i. Care forms the central purpose and essence of the nursing practice.

ii. Caring is important for well-being, health, growth, survival, healing as well as facing death or illness.

iii. Culture care has a wide and general focus that directs nursing care.

iv. The main purpose of nursing is to help human beings at all times; in sickness, in health and even in death.

v. Curing cannot be done without receiving and giving care.

vi. Concepts of culture care have both similar and different factors in every culture worldwide

Metaparadigm in Nursing

A learned scientific and humanistic discipline and profession centered on caring for human beings and steps to support, assist, enhance, or facilitate groups or individuals to keep themselves healthy, in a manner that is beneficial yet culturally sensitive, or to support the handicapped or support people in facing death. A metaparadigm shows the global perspective of a certain discipline -- the worldwide view that subsumes approaches and views that are more specific to the main ideas of that discipline (Melanie Mcewen & Evelyn M. Wills, 2011).

5. Major concepts of the theory

Conservation model -- Dependence on communication for human beings to interact, based on the organic reliance of a person in his/her interactions with others (Melanie Mcewen & Evelyn M. Wills, 2011).

Theory of Role-Modeling and Modeling - "The overall support of people with their practices of self-care with regard to their well-being -- an interpersonal, interactive practice which fosters strengths for achieving a condition of perceived overall well-being" (Melanie Mcewen & Evelyn M.…