The following is an interview between the Nurse Leader of St. Michael Hospital and I aiming to understand the nursing theory in practice followed by the institution. Additionally, there will be interviewing of a staff nurse to know whether their leader supports them.

Question 1: Which nursing theory do you use at your hospital and can you briefly tell me about the concept?

Nurse Leader: The nursing theory followed for practice here at St. Michael Hospital is known as Transcultural Nursing Theory. According to Madeleine Leininger the theorist of the concept, care is the necessity of nursing and the distinctive, dominant and unifying feature. Madeleine indicates that there cannot be a cure without caring although caring can occur with curing. Transcultural nursing theory is termed as a comparative studying of cultures in understanding differences and similarities across human groups (Vasfiye, 2018). Therefore, healthcare personnel should work towards understanding care, beliefs, values, and lifestyle for different cultures which forms the basis for culture-specific care provision.

Question 2: Does the transcultural nursing theory guide nursing practice?

Nurse Leader: First, theories have been developed in nursing for an explanation of a phenomenon which is essential to clinical practice. For instance, the use of transcultural nursing theory in our hospital helps in guiding nursing practice because it assists in data organization, understanding and analyzing patient information as well as making suitable decisions interrelated to nursing interventions.

Question 3: Does the transcultural nursing theory guide the practice of other healthcare team members?

Nurse Leader:  In my opinion, transcultural nursing theory guides the practice for all other healthcare team members. The approach uses the concept of race, culture, and ethnicity in understanding human behavior. Also, the nursing profession which is significant in a health team is considered as a cultural phenomenon meaning that the patient’s cultural practices, beliefs, and values are an integral part of holistic nursing care. Therefore, nurses should consider social care provision in multicultural societies, understanding the effect of culture in the definition of health-disease and bridging of the gap between individual care in diverse cultures.

Question 4: Does transcultural nursing theory help in improving patient care outcomes?

Nursing Leader: I am undoubtedly sure that transcultural nursing theory improves patient care outcomes not only in our hospital but also in other healthcare centers where it is being applied. For instance, understanding of the specific factors which affect individual health behaviors ensures that nurses are more successful in meeting their own needs. Besides, personal belief’s on health, past illness or experiences as well as culture forms a holistic structure and plays a critical role in enhancing individual health.

Question 5: Can you recall a patient care situation where you applied transcultural theory in guiding your practice and what was the outcome?

Nurse Leader: Yes, I can recall one of the cultural encounters I experienced last year when dealing with one of the patients. The victim was a thirty-four-year-old Haitian immigrant who was hospitalized in the neurosurgical ICU because of suffering from a traumatic brain injury after falling from a scaffold. The family members insisted on staying around the patient.  The prognosis for the patient was, and when the attending physicians deliberated on discontinuation of the life support treatment with the family members, they consent although they request that all family members should be present in witnessing the guy’s death. Intensive Care Unit policies do not allow more than two family members to be with the patient at any given time (Alligood,2017) Therefore, the staff complained of having difficulties in task completion with other critically ill patients due to the distractions. In Haitian culture, if death is imminent, the whole family assembles, pray and cry while using religious artifacts or religious medallions because they believe that when a person dies even the extended family is affected. Nevertheless, the situation was solved through reminding the family members that at times they may be asked to step out of the room like during bedside procedures or shift report. Consequently, the oldest family members were invited to schedule visitors turns.

Question 6: Do you think the transcultural theory can be improved?

Nurse Leader: Yes, the transcultural nursing theory can be improved through making nurses to appreciate and recognize cultural differences in healthcare customs, beliefs, and values. For instance, nurses must acquire the necessary skills and knowledge in cultural competency since they will ensure positive outcomes and patient satisfaction. Therefore, additional nursing research is required for promoting transcultural nursing.

Question 7: are there other nursing theories which can guide your practice better?

Nurse Leader:  Yes, there are different nursing concepts in practice today such as Need, Self-Care, System Model and Interpersonal theory. Those are some of the most prominent although there are many of them which have been developed by various individuals.

Question 8: What could the theorists have done in improving patient care problems?

Nurse Leader:  The theorists could act differently today in improving patient care problems. First, Virginia Henderson who developed Need Theory would have emphasized the importance of increased client’s independence for the promotion of continuous curing progress after hospitalization (Giger,2016). On the hand, Dorothea E. Orem with her Self-Care Theory would have made people responsible and reliant for their care as well as that of the other family members.

Question 9a: Do you support patient improvement ideas and research from your nurses?

Nurse Leader: Yes, I do support and encourage nurses to carry research and give their ideas on patient improvement ideas. For instance, we have held regular meetings on such issues, and even there is a suggestion box where staff can engage with me on various matters.

9b: Do you share any research and patient improvement ideas with your nurse leader?

Staff Nurse: Yes, we share a lot of ideas and research on how we can improve the patient conditions especially on our meetings as well as training sessions.

Question 10a:  How do you support your patients and staff as a nurse leader?

Nurse Leader: First, as a nurse leader, I have to ensure that all the things are in order and everyone including the patients felt comfortable and accommodated while in the hospital. For instance, I have to ensure that patients are attended accordingly and proper medications administered. Besides, I support the staff by providing that they receive the necessary training and coaching on various matters and also ensure that there are adequate equipment and tools in the hospital.

10b: Does your nurse leader support you as staff

Staff Nurse: Yes, am much helped and I do appreciate that. For we get trained and coached after every six months on various emerging issues. Besides, there is available funds and resources for those who wish to research multiple matters.

References

Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing theorists and their work. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Giger, J. N. (2016). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Vasfiye Bayram Deger (2018). Transcultural Nursing. Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/books/nursing/transcultural-nursing