On The Edge 2010

Join us as we explore the many implications of complexity science for nursing and healthcare practice, education, leadership and research.

The science of complexity represents an intellectual revolution that is transforming our understanding of biological life – its structures and functions, its care and well-being. This revolution gives us new insights and strategies for enhancing human health at all levels, from individuals to organizations to communities.

Healthcare professionals work in and with complex systems and the nursing profession itself has been described as a complex system. Recognizing this, members of the Plexus Institute Nursing and Complexity Learning Network have been using insights from complexity science in their work.

The focus of the 4th Annual “On the Edge” workshop, will be complexity science-inspired processes that foster learning, creativity and engagement. Attendees will learn about these processes from talented faculty, hear stories about their application on issues ranging from classroom education to infection prevention and healing relationships. They will also have opportunities to discover a variety of processes, and be able to experience them. Among the processes to be featured are: open space, positive deviance, circle process, and the AIC (appreciative, influence, control) fractal.

Come learn and explore with us how nurses, physicians and other healthcare practitioners can harness the power of complexity science in teaching, researching, leading and practice.

This workshop is designed for practicing nurses, nursing researchers, nurse leaders, nursing educators, and healthcare professionals in search of a better framework for thinking, leading, researching and improving patient care. To benefit the most from this conference and be better positioned to introduce complexity concepts back in one’s organization, it is recommended that participants attend with interested colleagues. But be assured that if you come alone, you will connect with like-minded colleagues.

Students are encouraged to attend. There is a reduced registration fee for full-time students and special coaching sessions for students on how to incorporate complexity science principles and methods into their research and education.

Plexus Institute is a community of diverse people – nurses, scientists, business executives, artists, educators, journalists, researchers, physicians, university students, and community leaders. Its mission is to foster the health of individuals, families, communities, organizations and our natural environment by helping people use concepts emerging from the new science of complexity. To learn more visit www.plexusinstitute.org.