Leininger’s Culture Care Theory presents three culture care modes of decisions or actions

Full Answer Section

Meleis' Culture Care Theory provides a framework for understanding the relationship between culture and nursing care. It identifies three primary culture care modes that nurses can employ to provide culturally competent care:

1. Culture Care Preservation/Maintenance:

This mode involves helping patients maintain or preserve their cultural beliefs and practices. It recognizes the importance of cultural identity and the need to respect and support patients' cultural values.

Practice Exemplar:

• Patient: A Muslim patient who is fasting during Ramadan.
• Culture Care Preservation: The nurse can accommodate the patient's fasting practices by scheduling appointments and procedures accordingly, providing culturally appropriate food options, and offering understanding and support.

2. Culture Care Accommodation/Negotiation:

This mode involves helping patients adapt or modify their cultural beliefs and practices to meet the demands of healthcare. It recognizes that sometimes cultural practices may need to be adjusted to ensure optimal health outcomes.

Practice Exemplar:

• Patient: A patient from a culture that values traditional healing practices in addition to Western medicine.
• Culture Care Accommodation: The nurse can work with the patient to integrate traditional healing practices into the overall treatment plan, while also ensuring that they do not interfere with medically necessary interventions.

3. Culture Care Restructuring/Repatterning:

This mode involves assisting patients in changing their cultural beliefs and practices to improve their health outcomes. It may involve challenging cultural norms or beliefs that are harmful to health.

Practice Exemplar:

• Patient: A patient from a culture that places a high value on family honor, but is reluctant to seek help for mental health issues.
• Culture Care Restructuring: The nurse can help the patient understand the importance of seeking mental health treatment and address any cultural beliefs or stigma that may be preventing them from seeking help.

By understanding and applying these three culture care modes, nurses can provide culturally competent care that is respectful, appropriate, and effective.

Sample Answer