Purnell Model

 The Purnell Model is a model that is used for teaching cultural competence in the medical setting, especially nurses. It was created by Larry Purnell and faculty at the University of Delaware in 1998. The model is based off of a list of assumptions that healthcare professionals must take into consideration when working with different cultural groups. 

Assumptions: 

• All healthcare professions share the concepts of global society, community, family, person, and health. (As depicted in the image below.) 
• All cultures have core similarities, but there are differences between and within cultures. 
• No culture is superior to another, they are only different. 
• Culture changes over time. 
• When patients are involved in their care, health outcomes will likely improve. 
• Culture has a large influence on the patient's interpretation of care. 
• Providers need culturally general and culturally specific information to provide culturally competent care. 
• Every patient is a new cultural encounter. 

Image: Illustration of the Purnell Model . (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purnell_Model_for_Cultural_Competence.

Sources: Purnell, L. (2018b, December 19). The Purnell Theory and Model for Culturally Competent Health Care . National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). https://chronicdisease.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/purnell2018.pdf

Rose, P. R. (2013). Cultural competency for the Health Professional. Jones & Bartlett Learning.