title: Concept mapping a baccalaureate nursing program: a method for success.
abstract: The understanding of curricular design and development is paramount for faculty. For novice faculty, learning teaching methods commonly takes precedence over understanding curriculum development. Professional accrediting bodies of nursing programs require curriculum course content to be pertinent and flow logically. Baccalaureate nursing programs can choose to be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The purpose of this article is to describe an educational innovation that one College of Nursing implemented to orient new faculty to the curriculum and prepare for an accreditation renewal. Assigned faculty developed and implemented a concept mapping process aimed to evaluate and revise course content based on national standards and guidelines. Undergraduate faculty understanding and ownership of the curriculum was evident throughout the process. The concept mapping process proved to be an innovative approach to enhance the curriculum and equip faculty with an understanding of the relationship between concepts and course content.
authors.affiliation: University of South Alabama College of Nursing, Mobile, AL, USA. vdearmon@usouthal.edu
authors.forename: Valorie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dearmon
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Heather R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D003210:Concept Formation; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States