Providing patients with the best possible care is the ultimate goal for any nurse. Therefore, nurses rely on a vast range of tools, strategies and practices to develop personalized treatment plans for their patients. One commonly used tool is the nursing concept map, which provides nurses with an ability to visualize complex patient information.
Nursing concept maps have been leveraged for years to provide patients with individualized care, improve patient outcomes, foster critical thinking and facilitate effective care planning.
What Is a Nursing Concept Map?
A nursing concept map is defined as a visual tool that represents an individual patient’s health status. The concept map is designed to connect key concepts, assessments, diagnoses, interventions and outcomes, and it can be used to organize information in a way that facilitates holistic patient care.
Nursing concept maps can be created using a variety of structures, but the most common types of concept maps for nursing include:
- Spider maps – Spider maps are the most widely used type of nursing concept map. In this map, the main topic is highlighted in the center of the map, and subtopics extend out from it—resembling a spider.
- Flow charts – Considered the most simplistic and direct form of nursing concept map, flow charts are often used to outline workflow and delegate tasks.
- Hierarchical maps – Preferred by those who like items listed in an orderly fashion, hierarchical maps list the main topic at the top of the map, with the other topics listed below in order of importance.
- System maps – Similar to flow charts, system maps list the workflow in the order in which tasks should be completed. Unlike flow charts, there are input and output components included in a system map.
Key Elements of a Concept Map for Nursing
Regardless of the visual model you use, these key elements are generally incorporated into a concept map for nursing:
- Central concept – The central concept is the main idea. For example, the priority for the patient may be finding an accurate diagnosis.
- Related concepts – Related concepts are the subtopics that extend from the central concept. If diagnosis is the central concept, then some related concepts may be patient assessment, health history, risk factors, diagnostic process, medications and patient personal identifiers.
- Connecting lines – The connecting lines visually connect topics together, and they can make the workflow order easier to interpret and understand.
- Linking phrases – Linking phrases are used to identify steps in the diagnostic process and identify the sequential order of workflow for the individual patient.
These components work together to provide a visual model for the patient care plan. It can help identify relationships and connections between different pieces of patient information, in turn reducing the complexity of the plan.
Why Are Nursing Concept Maps Beneficial?
Nursing concept maps are considered one of the most effective learning tools in nursing, and they remain relevant for nurses throughout their entire careers. These concept maps have a positive impact on critical thinking skills, clinical reasoning and patient outcomes.
Enhancing Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning
Nurses are often tasked with digesting a large amount of information and data about a patient in a short amount of time, then expected to be able to quickly create a plan for providing that patient with personalized, culturally competent care.
With all this in mind, nursing concept maps can be a valuable tool to help nurses organize and analyze complex patient data, including both subjective and objective data. By creating a visual representation of the patient and their needs, nurses can develop a deeper understanding of the patient and begin to recognize connections that exist between various health factors. Ultimately, nurses can use these maps to identify potential problems, prevent further health risks and plan appropriate nursing interventions.
Facilitating Effective Communication and Collaboration
Not only can concept maps help nurses visualize the steps to take in order to provide patients with the best possible care, but they also can be a communication tool that promotes effective collaboration among the healthcare team. Concept maps are easy to share with other providers and members of the care team, allowing everyone to stay on the same page and deliver consistent, reliable care. These seemingly simplistic visual tools can have a surprisingly substantial impact on interdisciplinary collaboration and shared decision-making.
Improving Patient Outcomes
Nursing concept maps tie together a central component with numerous subtopics, ensuring that all facets of patient care are considered. As a visual model that can identify potential complications and facilitate proactive interventions, nursing concept maps play a key role in improving patient outcomes.
Examples of Nursing Concept Maps
By studying nursing concept map examples, you can see how relevant and practical these visual tools can be when formulating an evidence-based care plan for an individual patient. Below are a few examples of nursing concept maps to consider:
Concept Map for a Patient With Diabetes
A concept map for a patient with diabetes would outline the key concepts related to management of the disease. Diabetes management would be the central concept of the map, with some potential subtopics including:
- Blood sugar monitoring
- Medication administration
- Diet and exercise
- Potential complications
- Patient understanding or Patient education
After creating a visual concept map, the nurse along with the rest of the care team is able to see the different factors that can influence disease progression as well as complications. The concept map allows the nurse to recognize the connections between the subtopics and create a care plan that accommodates the links between these factors.
Concept Map for a Patient With Heart Failure
A nurse who is working with a patient exhibiting the signs and symptoms of heart failure could create a concept map that outlines the numerous factors that may be influencing or impacting the severity of the condition. With this concept map, diagnosis and management of heart failure would be the central topic. Subtopics that could extend from the main concept include:
- Assessments
- Diagnostics
- Interventions
- Patient education
With this concept map, there would likely be additional linked phrases that address other factors. For instance, under the assessment concept, a nurse might link health history and patient lifestyle to the subtopic.
For a complex condition such as heart failure, the nursing concept map can be used to prioritize care for the patient and identify potential complications. It’s a critical tool that can allow the entire healthcare team to develop a proactive plan for that particular patient.
Concept Map for a Post-Surgical Patient
Considering that complications can arise swiftly and without warning, post-operative patients require specialized and attentive care. A concept map for a post-surgical patient can help ensure the patient has the best possible outcomes while recovering. For this nursing concept map example, the main topic would be post-operative care plan. Some subtopics might include:
- Pain management
- Wound care
- Infection prevention
- Rehabilitation
This unique care plan is designed to ensure that the patient is able to recover fully after the operation, and it is a visual tool that can help nurses monitor progress and anticipate potential complications.
How to Create a Concept Map for Nursing
A nursing concept map is a tool you may leverage frequently during your career as a nurse. Fortunately, these visual models are simple to make. This step-by-step guide can help you create an effective nursing concept map.
Gathering and Organizing Information
Before you can begin drawing and designing your nursing concept map, gather both objective and subjective data about the patient. The information you will need in order to create your concept map includes the patient’s:
- Medical history
- Current health status
- Medications
- Psychosocial factors
Identifying the Central Concept
After gathering relevant information about the patient and their current health condition, you should identify the central concept for your nursing concept map. The central concept will drive the entire map forward, so it’s crucial to focus on the right main topic. Generally speaking, the central concept would be the diagnosis of the patient or their primary health concern. Once you have identified the central concept, you can begin building your map.
Connecting Concepts and Relationships
Extending from the central concept will be several connecting concepts. You can use connecting lines and linking phrases to visually connect these topics together. When connecting concepts and relationships within your nursing concept map, try to use clear and concise language.
Utilizing Visual Elements
Visual elements can add clarity to your concept map. For instance, your central topic could be highlighted in blue, while the connecting concepts related to the central topic are highlighted in pink. Creating a concept map that is visually appealing may allow you to make vital connections faster as well as easily share the tool with other members of the care team.
Discover the Value of a Nursing Concept Map at Nevada State University
At the Nevada State University School of Nursing, we offer an online RN to BSN online program that allows nurses to enhance their skills and expedite their path toward advanced opportunities in nursing. Our skills-based curriculum emphasizes the importance of innovative and compassionate nursing practices, equipping nurses with the knowledge and resources to thrive in this rewarding field.
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