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CM
Intercultural communication is essential in nursing. There is a large population of non-English speakers in my area. Nurses must find ways to effectively communicate with their patients, especially those from other cultures. Yakar and Alpar (2018) conducted a study to see if nurses had intercultural communication competency. Nurses scored highly in this, with the most nurses in the facility having at least a bachelor’s degree (Yakar & Alpar, 2018, p. 1746). Many of these nurses were also fluent in another language.
As a nurse reading this article, I was looking for research to show improvement in patient outcomes, but that was not part of the study. The study only focused on the knowledge nurses had on the subject. The study did mention that training and interpreters could assist in this area (Yakar & Alpar, 2018, pp 1752-1753). I appreciate that the study was conducted in a hospital that cares for foreigners, and how the nurse gained their experiences in this type of communication. This study was great at figuring out where nurses stand on intercultural communication and how to improve it. This study focused on one area, but many more studies may come from the authors’ groundwork. I see many opportunities for further research in this area.
I used the Walden Library with advanced searches to find this article. My search was difficult at first, until I used the advanced search. The Walden Library advanced search helped to see if it was a journal, blog, magazine, trade, or publication (Walden University, n.d.). I found this very helpful in narrowing my search. It also helped me to read the abstract before I read the whole article. That alone saves time, which is crucial when working and caring for my family. I also used keywords in the advanced search, narrowing my search further. I looked to see if the study had ethics approval, what the study design was, what methods were used, what the statistics were, whether the study was non-biased, and whether there was a need for the study (Al-Jundi & Sakka, 2017). This advice helped me choose legitimate studies that coincide with my topic. I recommend the Walden Library to others. Many people could benefit from how easy it is to use and be able to reach their goals, one step at a time.
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TP
The articles I selected relate to the holistic aim I intend to prioritize in obtaining and practicing as a PMHNP. My primary goal is to improve patient outcomes by treating physical and mental health together, as highlighted in Hellstern’s systematic review of 42 studies on Integrated Primary Care (Hellstern, 2025). I also chose an article on other complementary healing practices, such as Reiki, due to my personal interest in incorporating complementary therapies into my future practice. Both articles emphasize the increasing focus on integrated care and its positive impact on holistic patient outcomes (Robichaux, 2025).
I used the Walden Library database to search for articles. This database is not only user-friendly but has proven to be effective in narrowing down search results when used efficiently. The “advanced search” button allows keyword entry, focusing results on relevant content. The ability to enter multiple keywords greatly narrows down search results. The “Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Journals Only” tab helps ensure resources meet assignment criteria. I believe this database would be useful to my colleagues as it is a free database created for scholarly learners and is easy to use. The only difficulties I could foresee would be using too many keywords, which could eliminate possible relevant articles.
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MG
Being a Walden Alumni, I am very familiar with the library and the resources offered there. I enjoyed being able to have peer reviewed articles and research studies at my fingertips. I became well accustomed to the advance search options through educational guidance with Walden (Walden University Library, n.d.). There are tips to discovering the key words to input for the advance search options (Walden University Library, n.d.).
Research has already been initiated towards my career as a PMHNP into a holistic approach for patients. I discovered a study that links physical illnesses and mental health diseases (Patel and Mancuso, 2022). This article made mention of the importance of advocacy and holistic approach in mental health world. Advocacy is extremely important for the nursing profession. I found a journal entry that provides examples of how advocacy has the power to eliminate mental health blockades and biases (Kowalczyk, 2023). This is an example of how a peer reviewed article directed me to another topic with just as much value and importance for my career. There so many added benefits and resources with Walden Library.
