the theory findings for effective consultation serv-
ices with cultures. The theory is being used a lot to
do culturalogical–health care assessments. Today,
transcultural nursing concepts, findings, policies,
and standards of care are being developed and used
from findings (Leininger, 1991). Interdisciplinary
health personnel are finding the theory and trans-
cultural nursing concepts and are finding help in
their work.
Eighth, informants of diverse cultures are often
very pleased to have their culture understood and
have care made to fit their cultural values and be-
liefs. This has been the most rewarding benefit of
the theory. The research is actually being used in
people care. The consumer also likes the ethno-
nursing method as they can “tell their story” and
guide health researchers to discover the truths
about their culture. Informants speak of being
more comfortable with researchers. They dislike
narrowly focused studies on numbers, variables,
and short instant responses.
Ninth, reflective thinking with the users of the
theory and method are occurring and valued. The
theory encourages the researcher or clinician to dis-
cover culture from the people and to let them be in
control of their ideas and their accounts.
Tenth, nurse researchers who have been pre-
pared in transcultural nursing and have used the
theory and method commonly say things like, “I
love the theory. It is the only theory that makes
sense to help cultures. They grow in ideas and enjoy
discovering new knowledge of the lifeways of peo-
ple and their meanings.” They dislike the return to
traditional nursing ways.
Eleventh, nurses who have used the theory and
findings over time often speak of how much they
have learned about themselves and about new cul-
tures and caring values and practices. Nurses dis-
cover their ethnocentric tendencies as well as
radical biases. The findings are helpful to reduce
cultural biases and prejudices that influence quality
of care to people of different cultures. Ethnocen-
trism and racial biases and prejudices are being re-
duced with transcultural research. Many nurses
also like to discover the differences and similarities
among cultures as it expands their worldviews and
deepens their appreciation of human beings of di-
verse cultures. Learning to become immersed in a
culture has been a major benefit. Most of all, nurses
are overwhelmed to discover care meaning and val-
ues from informants; they thought such research
would not yield benefits.
Finally, the strength of the theory is that it can
be used in any culture and at any time and with
most disciplines. Other disciplines have to modify
the theory slightly to fit their major and unique in-
terest and goals of their discipline. Several disci-
plines, including dentistry, medicine, social work,
and pharmacy, are now using the culturally con-
gruent care theory or teaching it in their programs.
Most encouraging is the fact that the concept of
“culturally congruent care” (the term that was
coined in the early 1960s) has now become a major
goal for United States government and several
states. The concept is growing in use and will be-
come a global force.
In general, the theory of culture care is a theory
of global interest and significance as we continue to
understand cultures and their care needs and prac-
tices worldwide. Transcultural nursing concepts,
principles, theory, and findings must become fully
incorporated into professional areas of teaching,
practice, consultation, and research. When this
occurs, then one can anticipate true transcultural
health practices and benefits to cultures. Unques-
tionably, the theory will continue to grow in rele-
vance and use as our world becomes more intensely
multicultural. Nurses and all health professionals
will be expected in the near future to function com-
petently with diverse cultures. The theory, along
with many transcultural nursing concepts, princi-
ples, and research findings, will be used.320 SECTION III Nursing Theory in Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Administration