Concept Mapping to Improve Critical Thinking in Nurses: A Pilot Study
1Department Head, Nurse Science, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City
2Assistant Professor of Nursing, Oklahoma City University, Kramer School of Nursing
3Assistant Dean for Students Affairs; Associate Professor of Nursing, Oklahoma City University, Kramer
School of Nursing
Abstract
Concept mapping (CM) has been used to help nursing students develop critical thinking skills and
improve clinical judgment. CM is being used with greater frequency in health profession education settings to
visually represent thought processes and links between variables that affect decision-making and patient
outcomes. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CM as a teaching tool to improve
critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills of experienced nurses in a sub-acute care setting. Significant
differences were found in participants’ critical thinking skills following a course involving concept mapping.
This study offers staff development educators a new process to improve the critical thinking of experienced
nurses.
