What is Purnell's Model?

The Purnell Model of Cultural Competence was developed in 1989 by Larry Purnell out of the observed need for a framework for cultural competence education for nursing students. This theory has evolved and is now used to guide education and practice for nurses at many educational levels. This theory has twenty basic assumptions that healthcare providers can use to guide their practice to meet cultural diversity needs. Healthcare providers use effective communication strategies to share information with the multidisciplinary team, recognize the differences that each culture possess, and that each individual has the right to be respected for their uniqueness (Purnell, 2015). To provide adequate culturally competent care, we must appropriately assess and evaluate patient's needs to adapt standard intervention treatment models as needed (Purnell, 2015).