'On the Edge' Conference Winds Down

By Joseph Hannan

The Plexus Conference, "On the Edge: Nursing in the Age of Complexity" is drawing to a close at Unity Village, Missouri. At this point, conference participants have had ample opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful facilities, thought-provoking presentations and engaging conversation.

This morning, MSN Mark Toles gave a presentation titled "Building Relationships to Improve Quality-Local Interaction Strategies." Toles is a doctoral candidate at Duke University and his presentation was a review of his innovative doctoral research.

The presentation was well received by conference participants. Toles fielded numerous questions.

Jim Begun also presented his findings from his "Wicked Questions" activity. His results were distributed and self-organized groups formed to review a particular category of "Wicked Questions" or any issue of their choice.

Here are some photos of the discussion groups:



Check back tomorrow for a conference summary and a slideshow featuring all conference photos.

Begun Reveals 'Wicked Questions' Findings

By Joseph Hannan

Jim Begun unveiled his findings this morning from his "Wicked Questions" activity. You can download a Microsoft Word document containing the results here.

Begun's Posts 'Wicked Questions'

Prior to the conversation cafe, Jim Begun posted categories of "wicked questions" at the front of the conference room. Throughout the rest of the evening and tomorrow morning, conference participants will each mark two questions they deem important. Begun will then analyze the results and determine a consensus.

Here are photographs of each posting:

Begun Seeks 'Wicked Questions'

By Joseph Hannan



Jim Begun hosted this morning's recap of yesterday's conference items. This was done in a thought provoking, innovative way.

He asked conference participants to come up with "wicked questions" about nursing--questions that would help move nursing forward by tackling difficult issues. Here is a sample of those questions:

-- "If we're so compassionate, why are we so mean to each other in the workplace?"

--"How we balance evidence-based practice with the art of nursing?"

--"Why do we as a profession value other disciplines more?"

--"Why is education not seemingly valued by practicing nurses?"

--"How do we give the best possible care with using the least possible resources?"

--"How do we as nurses leverage what I know and do to keep the whole profession moving
forward?"

--"Why is compassion the core of nursing?"

--"Why is practice not valued in the practice setting?"

--"Why is it so hard for us all to come together for the same goal?"

--"Can we move to the edge without leaving the mainstream?"

--"The high level of responsibility versus the power that nurses have."

--"If nursing is so good at connecting, exploring and making sense, why is the healthcare system so maladaptive?"

--"Why do we spend so much time on externals and not on our internal development?"

--"How can nursing become so highly technological and still retain our wholisitc focus on the patient and the family?"

Please post your friendly, non judgmental responses to these questions in the comments field of this entry. Let's keep this discussion moving forward so that solutions can emerge.