Transcultural Nurses Reflect on Discoveries in China Using Leininger's Sunrise Model

Abstract

This paper is a descriptive report of transcultural nursing discoveries in China. The authors embarked on this study tour led by an experienced transcultural nurse educator which presented a challenging opportunity to discover Chinese culture, lifeways, and health care systems. The authors were challenged to learn about cultural differences and the importance for nurses to use transcultural nursing principles and the Culture Care Theory with research findings about diverse cultures. Leininger's (1991) Theory of Culture Care and Sunrise Model were the conceptual and theoretical guides used to discover the worldview, lifeways, and cultural values of the Chinese people. The Sunrise Model depicts the components of a culture which include worldview, cultural and environmental context, and seven social structure factors. Analysis of these dimensions of the Sunrise Model enabled the authors to discover the important values, beliefs, and lifeways of the Chinese people. Religious and philosophical, kinship and social, political and legal, and economic factors were most important for this culture. In addition culture care expressions, patterns, and practices for health and well being were highly valued by this culture. The Sunrise Model includes diverse health systems which offer generic, folk, and/or professional care. The Chinese culture includes a strong reliance on folk health care systems which persists today. This paper discusses the simultaneous use of folk and professional health care by the Chinese people and implications for transcultural nurses.