This is an analytic-bibliographic study which analyzes the concept of nursing in Leininger's Theory and the conceptual development of Nursing presented in the master's degree dissertation chosen for this study. Barnum's model for the analysis and evaluation of theories (Barnum 1998) was used, in relation to the clarity and consistency of the concept, together with questionings about Nursing. The group of statements presented in Leininger's transcultural nursing concept and in the dissertation shows what is the focus of nursing and the intrinsic relation to the process of looking after somebody, which must be developed coherently with culture. It also demonstrates that Nursing has a body of specific professional knowledge which guides the care for the client, valuing one's individuality, subjectivity and way of seeing the world. The study made it possible to validate concepts taken from the Theory of Universality and Cultural Diversity of caring and their use in the research according to the analyzed criteria.
concept of nursing; culture; care