Intercultural Communication Challenges In Nursing

Part A

Henderson, Barker and Mak (2016) exposed that nurses, both academics and clinicians, need to be aware of intercultural communication challenges to better their communication in the workplace and improve student learning. Through conducting secondary research, the authors revealed that nurses faced difficulties when communicating with “culturally and linguistically diverse colleagues and students” (Henderson et al., 2016). As result of these findings, descriptive qualitative research was conducted among clinical nurses, nurse academics, and student nurses to identify what intercultural communication challenges they faced in educational and clinical environments, as well as to gain insight as to how these challenges could be lessened.
For example, the article written by Henderson et al. (2016) provides detail into how proactively seeking validation during interaction with culturally diverse people can aid in intercultural communication as a nurse. I will be able to implement this strategy into future practice as a nurse. If I encounter any intercultural communication challenges, either with a colleague or patient, I will clarify with them or someone else who clearly understands what is being said to ensure the optimum quality and safety of practice. A limitation of this strategy may include appearing rude if you consistently questioning a superior colleague to gain clarification of what they are iterating. The second annotated article by Kirsebom, Wadensten, and Hedstrom (2013) states that an effective communication strategy when discharging elderly people from hospitals is providing accurate medical care plans to nursing homes. This written communication strategy can be implemented into future practice for every patient, not just nursing home patients, by ensuring that I am proficient in writing accurate and expressive medical care plans. Written communication skills can be practiced now when writing assignments and exams for my degree, and then transferred into practice when writing patient care plans when I undertake placements. Thirdly, the journal article written by André, Nøst, Frigstad, and Sjøvold, (2017),
H., Frigstad, S. A., & Sjøvold, E. (2017). Differences in communication within the nursing group and with members of other professions at a hospital unit. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(7-8), 956-963. doi:10.1111/jocn.13410
Arnold, E.C. & Underman Boggs, K. (2015). Interpersonal Relationships: Professional Communication Skills for Nurses (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.au/books?id=7DAxBgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Henderson, S., Barker, M., & Mak, A. (2016). Strategies used by nurses, academics and students to overcome intercultural communication challenges. Nurse Education in Practice, 16(1), 71-78. doi:http://dx.doi.org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.08.010
Kirsebom, M., Wadensten, B., & Hedstrom, M. (2013). Communication and coordination during transition of older persons between nursing homes and hospital still in need of improvement. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(4), 886-895.