Teaching Concepts to Nursing Students Using Model Case Studies, the Venn Diagram, and Questioning Strategies

Teaching nursing students to use clinical judgment is integral to successful student outcomes. Conceptual learning is at the forefront of nursing education to help students transfer didactic learning to clinical settings where clinical judgment is practiced. This article proposes the use of three interactive teaching/learning methods - model case studies, the Venn diagram, and questioning strategies - as methods to help nursing students think conceptually, that is, to think like a nurse. The concept of gas exchange is presented as an example of how these teaching/learning methods can be used; these methods are applicable to any nursing concept.