A nursing instructor needs to evaluate students' abilities to synthesize data and identify relationships between nursing diagnoses. Which learning assignment is best suited for this instructor's needs?

A) Concept mapping
B) Reflective journaling
C) Lecture and discussion
D) Reading assignment with a written summary

Concept mapping challenges the student to synthesize data and identify relationships between nursing diagnoses. The primary purpose of concept mapping is to better synthesize relevant data about a patient, including assessment data, nursing diagnoses, health needs, nursing interventions, and evaluation measures. Reflective journaling involves thinking back to clarify concepts. Reading assignments and lecture do not best provide an instructor the ability to evaluate students' abilities to synthesize data.