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English: skills for learning
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2.2 Using a mind map to identify key themes

Last week you learned that the next step in writing an essay is to use the questions identified when analysing the task to select and take notes from relevant readings.

Fred read about the three care settings and found the answer to the essay question: carers should pay attention to the difference between public and private spaces because this ensures quality of care. This is the reason why private and public spaces should be recognised.

He also found that, due to different priorities, carers sometimes disregard patients’ private spaces and individual needs, and this is poor practice that negatively affects quality of care.

Fred jotted some notes in the margin of the course materials and then used the mind map below to reorganise them. The mind map identifies different spaces. It also shows how different priorities lead some carers to either respect or disregard patients’ private spaces and indicates where this leads to good or poor practice.

Fred’s mind map around care settings
Figure 6 Fred’s mind map
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At the centre of this mind map is a cloud labelled ‘Care settings’. Five branches stem from it: private spaces, public spaces, hospitals, patient’s home and residential homes. From the branch labelled ‘Private spaces’ stem three branches labelled as home, privacy, full control. The branches that stem from the branch labelled public spaces are limited privacy, limited control, unfamiliar people.

Four branches stem from hospitals: public area, few private areas, contrasting priorities and example of poor practice: Esther. Two branches stem from ‘contrasting priorities’. From the first, which is labelled carers’ priorities, stem other branches labelled efficiency, safety and organisation of rooms. From the second, which is labelled ‘patients’ needs’, stem further branches labelled dignity, privacy, autonomy and these are easily lost.

A further branch originating from the central cloud is labelled patient’s home. Three branches stem from this. The first is private places threatened. The second is labelled example of poor practice. The third is labelled example of good practice. From the branch labelled example of poor practice stem two further branches: carer’s own priorities and patient’s needs disregarded. From the latter stem other branches labelled limited control and limited privacy. From the branch labelled example of good practice stem two further branches labelled respect and sensitivity.

The last main branch is labelled residential homes. Four branches stem from this. The first is labelled private and public areas. From the second, which is labelled contrasting priorities, stem two further branches: carers’ priorities and patients’ needs. Carers’ priorities are safety and security while patients’ needs are privacy. From the third branch, which is labelled example of poor practice, stem the two branches labelled: residents’ needs disregarded and residents=objects. The fourth branch is labelled example of good practice. Four branches stem from it: own rooms, own possessions, sense of dignity and sense of identity.

Figure 6 Fred’s mind map