Mastering Nursing Concept Maps

Understanding Nursing Concept Maps

A nursing concept map is a visual representation of a patient's health problems and corresponding nursing interventions. It organizes complex clinical data—like symptoms, diagnostics, medications, and care strategies—into a logical structure. By creating a visual layout, students can more easily identify relationships, spot priorities, and ensure holistic care planning.

Nursing concept maps center on a primary nursing diagnosis or patient concern and branch outward to related factors, treatments, and outcomes.

Benefits of Using Concept Maps in Nursing Education

Concept mapping supports both clinical and academic success. Here are key advantages for nursing students:

Promotes Critical Thinking: Helps in analyzing and synthesizing patient data.

Organizes Clinical Information: Structures assessments, diagnoses, and interventions for clarity.

Reinforces Learning: Encourages application of course content to clinical scenarios.

Improves Care Planning: Visualizing connections between data improves intervention accuracy.

Boosts Exam Prep: Enhances NCLEX® readiness by reinforcing clinical judgment.

Many students using the NCLEX RN Review Course find that concept mapping complements their exam prep by reinforcing real-world clinical reasoning.

Types of Nursing Concept Maps

Different mapping formats suit different clinical situations. Here are four common types used in nursing education:

1. Spider Maps

Spider maps place the central diagnosis or problem in the middle, with related elements branching outward like a web. These are great for brainstorming and early planning.

2. Hierarchical Maps

Hierarchical concept maps begin with a general issue (like “Fluid Volume Deficit”) and list increasingly specific subcategories below. Ideal for identifying nursing priorities.

3. Flowcharts

These show sequential steps, often used for outlining a nursing procedure or the steps of a treatment plan. Flowcharts are especially helpful when time or task order is important.

4. System Maps

Used to show interrelated bodily systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, renal), these maps help you explore how multiple diagnoses interact across systems.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Nursing Concept Map

Not sure how to start? Here’s a practical, step-by-step process for building your own nursing concept map:

Step 1: Identify the Central Concept

Start with the main diagnosis or chief complaint (e.g., “chest pain”).

Step 2: Collect Patient Data

Gather your assessment data—vitals, lab results, medications, and symptoms—and place them around the central concept.

Step 3: Develop Nursing Diagnoses

This is often the most challenging part of the process and requires distinguishing nursing diagnoses from medical diagnoses. Nursing diagnoses are patient-centered and based on responses to health conditions, not the conditions themselves.

Use the NANDA-approved format to guide your thinking. Each nursing diagnosis has three parts:
Problem (e.g., Imbalanced Nutrition)
Etiology or “related to” (e.g., related to intake less than body requirements)
Evidence or “as evidenced by” (e.g., as evidenced by weight loss of 8 lbs)

Here’s a full example:
Imbalanced Nutrition related to intake less than body requirements as evidenced by weight loss of 8 lbs.

For more detail, visit our full guide to  mastering nursing diagnoses .

Step 4: Determine Relationships

Draw arrows or lines to connect related concepts. Use linking phrases like “leads to,” “caused by,” or “as evidenced by.”

Step 5: Organize by Priority

Use hierarchy or color-coding to reflect clinical importance. For example, life-threatening symptoms should appear closer to the center.

Step 6: Add Interventions and Outcomes

Include your nursing interventions and expected outcomes. Connect them to relevant symptoms or diagnoses to complete your care planning.

Step 7: Review and Revise

Check for accuracy, completeness, and logic. Ask: Does this map help me explain the patient’s care plan clearly? Consider asking your instructor to review it before submission.

Watch This Video Example