title: Ethnonursing and the ethnographic approach in nursing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a critical methodological review of the ethnonursing research method.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ethnonursing was developed to underpin the study and practice of transcultural nursing and to promote 'culturally congruent' care. Ethnonursing claims to produce accurate knowledge about cultural groups to guide nursing care. The idea that the nurse researcher can objectively and transparently represent culture still permeates the ethnonursing method and shapes attempts to advance nursing knowledge and improve patient care through transcultural nursing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant literature published between the 19th and 21st centuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethnography saw a 'golden age' in the first half of the 20th century, but the foundations of traditional ethnographic knowledge are being increasingly questioned today.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors argue that ethnonursing has failed to respond to contemporary issues relevant to ethnographic knowledge and that there is a need to refresh the method. This will allow nurse researchers to move beyond hitherto unproblematic notions of objectivity to recognise the intrinsic relationship between the nurse researcher and the researched.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A revised ethnonursing research method would enable nurse researchers to create reflexive interpretations of culture that identify and embody their cultural assumptions and prejudices.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Queensland Heath QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lakeman
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing
keywords: Leininger; anthropology; culture; ethnography; ethnonursing; nursing research; transcultural nursing