Purnell Model for Cultural Competence

Purnell Model for Cultural Competence

Summary:
In this Module we examined the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence. Its organizing
framework has discussed along with the basic assumptions on which it is based. In addition,
dominant American cultural values were outlined to provide a basic understanding of American
ways.
The purposes of the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence are to:
Provide a framework for all health care providers to learn the concepts and characteristics of
culture.
Define the circumstances that affect a person’s cultural worldview in the context of historical
perspectives.

Provide a model that links the most central relationships of culture.
Interrelate characteristics of culture to promote congruence and to facilitate the delivery of
consciously sensitive and competent health care.
Provide a framework that reflects human characteristics such as motivation, intentionality, and
meaning.
Provide a structure for analyzing cultural data.
View the individual, family, or group within their unique ethnocultural environment.
The Purnell Model is a circle, with an outlying rim representing global society, a second rim
representing community, a third rim representing family, and an inner rim representing the
person. The interior of the circle is divided into twelve pie-shaped wedges depicting cultural
domains and their concepts. The dark center of the circle represents unknown phenomena.
Along the bottom of the model is a jagged line representing the nonlinear concept of cultural
consciousness. The twelve cultural domains provide the organizing framework of the model. The
Model provides a box for each of the twelve cultural domains that contain statements that can be
used as a guide for assessing patients and clients in various settings. Accordingly, health care
providers can use these same questions to better understand their won cultural beliefs, attitudes,
values, practices, and behaviors.
The 12 domains are inter-connected and have implications for health. The utility of this
organization framework comes from its concise structure, which can be used in any setting and
applied to a broad range of empirical experiences and can foster inductive and deductive
reasoning in he assessment of cultural domains. Once cultural data are analyzed, the practitioner can fully adopt, modify, or reject health care interventions and treatment regimes in a
manner that respects the client’s cultural differences. Such adaptations improve the quality of the
client’s health care experiences and outcomes achieved.
The macro aspects of the Purnell Model include the metaparadigm concepts of a global society,
community, family, person, and conscious competence. The theory and model are
conceptualized from biology, anthropology, sociology, economics, geography, history, ecology,
physiology, psychology, political science, pharmacology, and nutrition. The model can be used in
clinical practice, education, research, and the administration and management of health care.
Assignment:
Conduct a cultural self-assessment. In order to understand culture and cultural diversity, it is
important that you understand your own culture and heritage. Remember, you are answering
these questions from your personal perspective, so there is no right or wrong response. Explain
why you do or do not adhere to the dominant cultural practices and beliefs of the ethnic group(s)
with which you primarily identify. Although the information on this self-assessment paper is
strictly confidential, if you do not wish to self-disclose a specific area from the Organizing
Framework, indicate so instead of just not addressing it. You are not required to provide
citations/references in this paper. Attention should be paid to grammar, spelling, and punctuation.