Curricular Mapping: Assessing Exemplars in an Integrated Concept-Based Curriculum.

Background: A Midwest school of nursing initiated an integrated concept-based curriculum where essential content is taught using exemplars. The specialty courses were integrated to address content overload and the duplication of content with different populations.

Problem: The faculty wanted to determine if the previous curriculum had been sufficiently integrated into the exemplars and if there were curricular gaps.

Approach: A curriculum mapping project was conducted to assess the integration of the previous curriculum into the exemplars. Specifically, faculty evaluated exemplars for characteristics of: (1) individuals, (2) health care systems, (3) specialties, (3) nurse characteristics, and (4) interprofessional practice.

Conclusions: Exemplars in an integrated concept-based curriculum can provide a broad representation of individuals across the life span and settings. Curricular mapping is an assessment tool that can identify curricular gaps and the need for refinement within the curricula to meet current and future directions within the health care environment.