NURS-FPX4015 – Summer 2025 – Assessment 3 Instructions

For this assessment you will select one of the mental health Sentinel U case study activities and create a concept map that outlines the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment of the mental health diagnosis from your chosen case study.
You’ll find this project helps bridge theoretical learning with real-world nursing practice, allowing you to visualize complex patient information in a clear and meaningful way.

The key components of a mental health diagnosis concept map include the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment of the diagnosis. The concept map should outline the key concepts related to the diagnosis, including risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, medications, complications, nursing diagnoses, and nursing interventions.
It’s an opportunity to demonstrate how deeply you understand the interconnected nature of mental health care, from clinical reasoning to evidence-based decision-making.
The map should be organized using a nursing concept map template, such as spider maps, hierarchical maps, or flow charts, to organize the information. The concept map should be accurate, complete, well-organized, and use appropriate nursing concepts and terminology.
Pay attention to clarity and logical flow since your ability to present complex information visually can make your care plans much more effective and meaningful for patients.

To complete your concept map, you may wish to follow these steps:

1. Select one of the mental health Sentinel U scenarios:
   • Ivy Jackson, 61 YO, Female, African
   Taking time to review each case thoughtfully before choosing will ensure that you align the scenario with your own learning goals and interests in mental health nursing.

NURS-FPX4015 – Assessment 3: Concept Map and Evidence-Based Care Plan (Typical Complete Instructions)

Overview:
For this assessment, you will select one of the Sentinel U Mental Health Case Studies and create a concept map that details the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment associated with the client’s mental health diagnosis.
You will also develop a 1–2 page narrative summarizing the clinical rationale behind your map, explaining how evidence-based practices support your nursing care decisions.

Steps to Complete:

1. Select one Sentinel U scenario (choose one):

   • Ivy Jackson, 61-year-old African American female

   • Other available scenarios include adults and adolescents with varying mental health conditions.

2. Analyze the Case Study:
   Review the client’s background, presenting symptoms, medications, and psychosocial factors. Identify the primary mental health diagnosis and any co-occurring disorders.

3. Develop the Concept Map:

   • Include pathophysiology (what’s happening biologically and neurologically).

   • Detail pharmacologic treatment (mechanism, side effects, nursing implications).

   • Describe physical and psychosocial assessments relevant to the diagnosis.

   • Add nursing diagnoses, interventions, and expected outcomes.

   • Organize the map visually using a spider map, hierarchical map, or flowchart.

4. Evidence-Based Support:
   Incorporate two to three scholarly sources published within the last five years that explain best practices for managing the selected diagnosis.

5. Reflection & Application:
   In your brief written summary, discuss how this exercise helped deepen your understanding of holistic care, patient safety, and therapeutic communication in mental health nursing.

6. Submission Requirements:

   • Submit both your concept map (PDF or image) and written summary (Word document).

   • Cite all sources using APA 7th edition guidelines.

   • Ensure your concept map is clear, accurate, and organized logically.

Grading Criteria (Summary):

• Accuracy and completeness of concept map

• Integration of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment data

• Clarity and logical organization

• Use of appropriate nursing terminology

• Evidence-based rationale and citations

• Professional presentation and APA formatting

References

• Townsend, M. C., & Morgan, K. I. (2023). Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice (11th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

• Younas, A., & Quennell, S. (2019). Use of concept mapping to improve critical thinking in nursing education: A literature review. Nurse Education Today, 76, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.01.019

• D’Souza, M. S., & Venkatesaperumal, R. (2021). Integration of concept mapping to enhance clinical reasoning in mental health nursing education. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00602-9

• Wei, H., et al. (2022). Enhancing nurses’ clinical competence through structured concept mapping: An integrative review. Nursing Open, 9(5), 2528–2538. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1191

• O’Brien, P., & Kennedy, A. (2024). Concept-based learning in mental health nursing: Strategies for bridging theory to practice. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(3), 141–149. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20240215-04