Students meet internationally recognized nursing theorist Madeleine Leininger

Eight nursing students from Barry joined their professor Christine Steffey to meet the founder and pioneering nursing theorist of transcultural nursing, Madeleine Leininger.

Leininger, who holds several academic titles and degrees including a doctor of science and registered nurse, was the first professional nurse to receive a Ph.D. in cultural and social Anthropology (doctor of philosophy) in 1966. This began her vision of “blending” two fields nursing and anthropology which led to her theory of worldwide nursing “Culture Care Diversity and Universality.”

Already defying expectations of women in her time as well as her own humble upbringing during a bleak Great Depression ridden Nebraska, Leininger graduated Denver’s St. Anthony’s Hospital, School of Nursing in 1948. During her training, she was also member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, a federally funded program aimed at increasing the number of nurses being trained to meet anticipated needs of World War II. By 1954, Leininger had earned her master of science in nursing degree at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.

According to Leininger, the theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality is to discover knowledge and gain understanding and to use the knowledge purposefully to give effective and meaningful nursing care to people.

“We were awed by the experience of seeing and hearing such a remarkable nursing theorist, Madeline Leininger,” said Steffey, who was pleased her nursing students stayed far after the event had finished. Dr. Leininger was gracious enough to speak to each student and sign a program personally addressed to them.

Florida Atlantic University will now be the repository for all of Leininger’s archives at their nursing library, where the students received a special tour of the building.

“It was so great to see the students become inspired by a real nursing hero. I smiled all the way home.”