Research Databases in Walden Library, Essay Example

Research Databases in Walden Library

The Walden Library is well-equipped in that it a computer-based database that contains all the learning materials in different fields of study. As a student in nursing, I decided to go to the library to search for a reliable database that contains peer-reviewed articles about Advance Practice Registered Nursing roles, opportunities, and challenges for practice. The databases in the library computers are arranged alphabetically, and according to the discipline they represent. ("Academic Guides: Foundations - Library Resources: Searching & Retrieving Materials in the Databases", 2018). I searched for a database that has articles about nursing. As a result, I came across the CINAHL & Medline Combine Search Database. The article contained peer-reviewed articles in the fields of nursing and medicine. Therefore, it was of help to me since I aimed to get a peer-reviewed article on the roles, opportunities, and challenges of APRN.

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Having found the database of choice, I started searching for the article which was about APRN. Since the database was well partitioned depending on the discipline, it was easier to locate articles in nursing. The articles relating to APRN were wholly at the top of the nursing platform since the articles are arranged in alphabetical order. I did not encounter any difficulties in searching for my article of choice since they were partitioned in order and any person with knowledge in computer practices could easily find the articles.

However, the database had both peer-reviewed and no-peer reviewed articles. Thus, I had to follow the displayed steps to ensure that only peer-reviewed articles come in sight ("Academic Guides: Foundations - Library Resources: Identifying & Evaluating Online Resources", 2018). On the displayed window, I clicked on the icon which was written peer-reviewed journal articles, and this separated the articles depending on whether they are reviewed or not. ("LibGuides: Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria: Introduction and Definitions", 2018). Thus, I remained with only peer-reviewed articles on APRN.

Based on the efficiency and reliability displayed by the CINAHL & Medline Combine Search Database, I was sure that even my colleagues who were searching for a reliable database for nursing articles could visit the database in case they need to get peer-reviewed articles. As a scholar, I would recommend other scholars in the field of nursing and medicine to start using the CINAHL & Medline Combine Search Database so that they can accept peer-reviewed and dependable articles.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Chosen Article

The article I choose is by Melnyk, GallagherFord, Long, and FineoutOverholt (2014) and focuses on the roles of advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). This is a peer-reviewed article that mainly focuses on the functions of APRN. The strength of this article is that it is peer-reviewed meaning that the information present in it is credible. The authors also conduct evidence-based research offering solutions to their research question. Another strength of the article is that correctly links evidence to action and therefore it properly fits and meets the expectations of the audience. There is no bias observed in the article. The only weakness in the article lies in its methodology as the sample selected may have a preference as the authors also acknowledge (Melnyk et al., 2014).

Summary of Chosen Article

The article that I reviewed in the CINAHL & Medline Combine Search Database was about the APRN roles. It outlined the roles of nursing practitioners, nursing anesthetists, nursing midwives, and other nursing specialists who play a vital role in providing health care (Melnyk et al., 2014). The article also talks about the challenges that the nurses go through such as lack of resources to implement their services to patients.

The CINAHL & Medline Combine Search Database article was reliable, and it enabled me to find a peer-reviewed article for APRN. The database is well-formatted in that any student using the Walden library can easily access its articles. The keywords in the search the articles in the database included nursing and Advanced Practice Registered Nursing roles. The database proved to be reliable for nursing scholars as its articles are peer-reviewed, quality, and were appropriate to the discipline.

References

Academic Guides: Foundations - Library Resources: Identifying & Evaluating Online Resources. (2018). Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/foundationscoursedocs/IdentifyingEvaluating

Academic Guides: Foundations - Library Resources: Searching & Retrieving Materials in the Databases. (2018). Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/foundationscoursedocs/SearchingRetrieving

LibGuides: Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria: Introduction and Definitions. (2018). Retrieved from http://guides.library.cornell.edu/scholarlyjournals

Melnyk, B. M., GallagherFord, L., Long, L. E., & FineoutOverholt, E. (2014). The establishment of evidencebased practice competencies for practicing registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in realworld clinical settings: Proficiencies to improve healthcare quality, reliability, patient outcomes, and costs. Worldviews on EvidenceBased Nursing, 11(1), 5-15.