Pesut Advocates for Complexity-Inspired Practice

By Joseph Hannan



Nursing exists on a verge, according to Dan Pesut. He said many of the participants in this year's conference have come "to embrace the complexity and the diversity of the relationships (they're) engaged in."

In his opening remarks, Pesut said historically, nursing has been torn between many different practice approaches including rule-based and evidence-based methods. Pesut advocated for a non-linear, wholisitc approach that will help nurses to improve their work--an approach that embraces creativity and complexity.

He referred to Complexity Science as being a "second-tier value development"--a wholistic lens through which a new understanding can be achieved. Pesut said the science of complexity has great potential for nursing in terms of addressing issues faced by the modern nurse. He asked conference participants to self-organize into groups and discuss both personal nursing values and applications of Complexity Science for nursing.

Through group discussion, new ideas about Complexity Science and how it will benefit nursing emerged. Nurses, nursing professors, nursing administrators, communications professors and even an engineer shared their thoughts on how the linear world view is no longer applicable.

The stories that emerged from the discussion seemed to suggest that the conference participants each had an inherent knowledge of the science of complexity as it applies to their professions. Dramatic results in the form of new insight are emerging early on in the conference.

Editors Kickoff Nursing Conference

By Joseph Hannan



Three years ago, "On the Edge: Nursing in the Age of Complexity" began at a conference just like this. Innovation occurs during events in which leading thinkers gather and share their ideas--Complexity Science in action.

This year's nursing conference is sure to produce similar results. Curt Lindberg, Claire Lindberg and Sue Nash, 'On the Edge' editors, each said this year's conference will rely extensively on the ideas of its participants.

Claire Lindberg said the presence of so many healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and administrators among others, indicates the forward-thinking nature of the healthcare industry.

These passionate members of the healthcare community will discuss various issues and colaborate to produce astonishing results throughout the coming days. It will be interesting to see what results the "On the Edge" conference will produce.

'On The Edge' Conference Begins

By Joseph Hannan



Greetings from Unity Village. It's a beautiful day in Kansas City, Missouri--sunny with the temperature climbing into the upper 90s.

We're currently working on setting up for the conference. We've been given an enormous room which we've filled with concentric semicircles.

The conference will begin at 1:30 p.m. Check back frequently for more updates.