The nursing theory that I utilized during my practice experience was the Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. Introduced by Leininger, this approach was developed for nurses who work in a diverse environment (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2017). The Culture Care Theory focuses on the uniqueness of each human being and the importance of culture in people’s lives. For example, it recognizes that patients’ mental well-being is detrimental to their physical health, and the nurses’ duty is to address both aspects with care and attention. Nurses should practice culture care, basing their decisions not only on their medical knowledge but also on individuals needs of each patient. Each person has the right to have religious, ethical, and health-related beliefs and they must be respected by others.
Nurses participate both in curing and caring as one process cannot be effective without another. As I worked with many older patients from different backgrounds, I was challenged with their varying levels of knowledge and understanding of medical procedures (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, & Sandberg-Cook, 2017). I also encountered many views on healthcare in general, and my goals were to address each situation with the patient’s opinion in mind. The Culture Care Theory influenced the goals that I formulated for my practice. I aimed to achieve seven objectives, each of them aligned with the seven domains of practice. Thus, I implemented specialized clinical knowledge, guided patients in their recovery, consulted and collaborated with other professionals, used EBP information, employed my leadership skills, and developed ethical solutions for arising issues. As can be seen, these activities are congruent with the seven practice domains and are centered around holistic and collaborative care (Reimanis, 2015). In the end, I believe that I was able to accomplish all objectives and meet the timeline that I have set for myself.
References
Buttaro, T. M., Trybulski, J., Polgar Bailey, P., & Sandberg-Cook, J. (2017). Primary care: A collaborative practice (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
McFarland, M. R., & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2017). Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. In M. R. Alligood (Ed.), Nursing theorists and their work, (pp. 339-358). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Reimanis, C. L. (2015). The advance practice exam: Understanding the 7 domains of advanced practice nursing. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing, 42(3), 287-289.