A nurse is providing care to a culturally diverse population. Which action indicates the nurse is successful in the role of providing culturally congruent care?

A) Provides care that fits the patient's valued life patterns and set of meanings
B) Provides care that is based on meanings generated by predetermined criteria
C) Provides care that makes the nurse the leader in determining what is needed
D) Provides care that is the same as the values of the professional health care system

The goal of transcultural nursing is to provide culturally congruent care, or care that fits the person's life patterns, values, and system of meaning. Patterns and meanings are generated from people themselves, rather than from predetermined criteria. Discovering patients' cultural values, beliefs, and practices as they relate to nursing and health care requires you to assume the role of learner (not become the leader) and to partner with your patients and their families to determine what is needed to provide meaningful and beneficial nursing care. Culturally congruent care is sometimes different from the values and meanings of the professional health care system.