Plotting care: a modelling technique for visioning nursing practice in current and future contexts

Health professionals in health-care organisations are frequently challenged to strategise their services, reshape patterns of care delivery and to adapt to changing environments. Relocation of services into new hospital buildings is one example of a situation that generates these challenges. In this paper the authors discuss an innovative modelling strategy that was employed to assist nurses to explore their current daily care practices, to visualise them in the context of proposed new buildings, and to work towards planning care in readiness for the new context. The modelling technique of 'plotting' is presented as a way of capturing the natural spatial-service wisdom that exists within teams, and assisting them to translate their knowledge of this to each other and to co-operatively work towards a new clinical future. Plotting will be of use to health professionals, clinical leaders and educators who are interested in spatial analysis of care and other health service practices.