A PAPER
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
NURS 5003 TRANSCULTURAL FAMILY HEALTH CARE IN RURAL & URBAN
SETTINGS
IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING
BY
HOUSTON, TX
September 4, 2013
There are many areas of focus in nursing. This paper will focus on transcultural nursing including the review of a graduate student’s personal culture and how to incorporate cultural actions into nursing practice. The Giger and Davidhizar Transcultural model will be discussed and applied to the graduate student. Transcultural nursing has been defined as a humanistic and scientific area of formal study and practice in nursing which is focused upon differences and similarities among cultures with respect to human care, health, and illness based upon the people's cultural values, beliefs, and practices, and to use this knowledge to provide cultural specific or culturally congruent nursing care to people (Leininger, 1991). The U.S. Bureau of the Census (2010) for the Houston, Texas population showed over 25 different ancestry cultures, demonstrating the need for culturally sensitive and culturally competent nursing care. A culturally competent nurse needs to understand his/her own world views and those of the patient, while avoiding stereotyping and misapplication of scientific knowledge. Cultural competence is obtaining cultural information and then applying that knowledge as reviewed from the online article from K. Fernandez and Fernandez in 2012. Also the culturally sensitive nurse communicates in a way that reflects sensitivity and appreciation for the diversity of another. It is conveyed when words, phrases, categorizations, etc. are intentionally avoided, especially when referring to any individual who may interpret them as impolite or offensive (Giger et al., 2007). The Giger and Davidhizar cultural model incorporates six phenomena – Time, Space, Communication, Social Organization, Biologic Variations and Environmental Control. As it relates to the African American community and the fore mentioned