Caring for a Bedouin Female Patient with Breast Cancer: An Application of Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality

• Main Authors: Abdul Qadir J. Nashwan, Dana B. Mansour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Makhdoomi Printers 2013-07-01
• Series: Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health
• Subjects: Bedouin; Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory; Jordan; Arab; Breast Cancer
• Online Access: http://www.gjmedph.org/uploads/R1-Vo2No3.pdf

Leininger’s theory is to provide care measures that are in harmony with an individual or group’s cultural beliefs, practices, and values. In the 1960’s she coined the term culturally congruent care, which is the primary goal of Transcultural nursing practice. Recently, there is a noticeable increase in the usage of the advanced hospitals’ health services by the Bedouin; as their awareness developed in term of health issues, and this put the health care providers (especially nurses) in a great chance to face this Bedouin’s culture in clinical areas. So we have to enrich our understanding of the Bedouin’s culture to deliver a culturally congruent and satisfying care. A personal experience of two oncology nurses in working with a female patient with breast cancer and her Bedouin family described, with application of Madeleine Leininger’s theory of culture care diversity and universality. Concluding that understanding, considering and valuing cultural differences when delivering nursing care are vital to ensure providing a culturally congruent nursing care as well as avoid conflicts.