Complex adaptive systems and their relevance for nursing: An evolutionary concept analysis. Issue 3 (8th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Notarnicola, Ippolito; Petrucci, Cristina; De Jesus Barbosa, Maria Rosimar; Giorgi, Fabio; Stievano, Alessandro; Rocco, Gennaro; Lancia, Loreto
• Is Part Of: International journal of nursing practice. Volume 23:Issue 3(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-02-08
• Subjects: chaos -- complex adaptive systems -- complexity theory -- concept analysis -- nursing; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Practice -- Periodicals; 610.73092
• DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12522
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1322-7114

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to analyse the concept of "complex adaptive systems." The construct is still nebulous in the literature, and a further explanation of the idea is needed to have a shared knowledge of it. A concept analysis was conducted utilizing Rodgers evolutionary method. The inclusive years of bibliographic search started from 2005 to 2015. The search was conducted at PubMed©, CINAHL© (EBSCO host©), Scopus©, Web of Science©, and Academic Search Premier©. Retrieved papers were critically analysed to explore the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the concept. Moreover, surrogates, related terms, and a pattern recognition scheme were identified. The concept analysis showed that complex systems are adaptive and have the ability to process information. They can adapt to the environment and consequently evolve. Nursing is a complex adaptive system, and the nursing profession in practice exhibits complex adaptive system characteristics. Complexity science through complex adaptive systems provides new ways of seeing and understanding the mechanisms that underpin the nursing profession. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The science and theory of complex adaptive systems, also known as complexity science, have emerged as an alternative to existing science paradigms. While a large amount of literature about the complex adaptive system concept exists regarding the medical discipline, it has been scarcely analysed from a nursing perspective. In the discipline of nursing, there is still little clarity on the concept of complex adaptive systems. What this paper adds? This article provides new conceptual frameworks for the nursing discipline. This manuscript adds new ways to explore the human beings, the environment, and the concept of health under the lens of the science of complexity and precisely through the complex adaptive systems. This article describes the concept of complex adaptive system attributes, antecedents, consequences, surrogates, and related terms. Implications for practice: Findings of this concept analysis may be utilized to develop a theoretical model for the discipline of nursing. The science of complexity offers a new methodology to study nursing and its function in the health system. Nurses through the study of complex adaptive systems have the opportunity to redesign research, health policies, and clinical practice.