This role of "Observer" is also extended towards the nurses own culture. By examining their own cultural beliefs and values, the nurse will be more aware of how their own culture may be inadvertently imposed upon the cultural identity of the patients they care for. Leininger defines this tendency of nurses to dominate their clients cultural identity as "Cultural Imposition". (Cooney, 1994).
Leninger considers that cultural differences are scientifically identifiable and that it is important to discover parallel beliefs between a patient's cultural values and those of Western medicine in order for the patient to respond positively to nursing care delivery. Therefore, it is essential for individual nurses to have a scientific knowledge base covering a range of different cultures so that they can respond therapeutically to the needs of their clients. .
Leininger argues that the essential goal for health professionals working with a cultural group different from their own, is to initially determine the dominant cultural values, priorities and characteristics of that group and then decide how best to assist them. (Cooney, 1994) .
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Cultural Safety: .
In New Zealand the Treaty of Waitangi has been enacted so that the Maori people, have the legal right to uphold their own cultural identity and not suffer persecution or deprivation in a society predominantly governed by Europeans.
"The Maori people were to have the security and protection of the British Crown, indeed full rights as British citizens" (Doms,1989).
Within the Maori version of the text, Maori understood that they could maintain their chieftainship over their villages, lands, possessions, language, spirituality and health practices, as well as kinship ties. However, the English version, in granting citizenship, usurped control of the Maori social order by placing all New Zealanders, including Maori, under the sovereign rule and the justice system of the British Crown.