Concept mapping: a distinctive educational approach to foster critical thinking.

Advanced practice nurses must be able to link interventions to address pathophysiological processes with underlying alterations in normal physiological function to promote safe, effective patient care. Development of creative methods to assist students to make their own connections among healthcare concepts is imperative to create a positive learning environment. The authors discuss the use of concept mapping in conjunction with case-study clinical rounds to maximize critical thinking and greater learning retention among advanced practice nurses in a graduate physiology/pathophysiology course.