Nursing students should always be aware of graphic tools that can improve their ability to identify goals in the caregiving process. More specifically, nursing students are typically required by their instructors to utilize nursing maps that can help them organize theoretical concepts in nursing practice. Nursing concept maps provide a strong visual representation of nursing concepts, which can make it easier for the student to integrate and grasp complex theories that they will encounter in the classroom. This aspect of nursing practice will require the student to understand the use of nursing concept maps as a graphical symbol of important theoretical exchanges that occur between the student and instructor.
The nursing concept map provides a visual map of theoretical concepts in the form of a diagram. This type of visual organizer introduces a new theory or concept that is often interrelated to previous concepts taught in an educational environment. This graphical tool will provide a more concrete visual presentation of theories, which helps to clarify difficult concepts that would otherwise be communicated orally or in writing.
The application of concept mapping begins with a theoretical idea that can be further divided and subdivided into various parts for ease of comprehension. These conceptual divisions can be illustrated with circles, squares, etc. in association with interconnected lines to show conceptual interrelationships. This hierarchical method of showing interrelated ideas provides a conceptual map for the student to visually identify the various elements of a concept that are being presented by the instructor.
The primary features of a nursing concept map are the greater ease of comprehension that it provides the nursing student:
The purpose of nursing concept maps is not only to clarify mental images of complex concepts but also to create a platform for greater creativity in the generation of ideas. Creativity is extremely important for nurses to implement new concepts that can help to improve the caregiving process. More so, nurses may also utilize a conceptual map to help navigate complex ideas involving nursing management or business-related practices: