Academic Journal
Navigating complexity: A scoping review of complex adaptive systems theory in nursing research.
| Τίτλος: | Navigating complexity: A scoping review of complex adaptive systems theory in nursing research. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Liu J; School of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Geriatric Long-term Care (Naval Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China., Qu W; School of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China., Liu Q; School of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Geriatric Long-term Care (Naval Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China., Zhang W; School of Nursing, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Geriatric Long-term Care (Naval Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: wei08smmu@126.com. |
| Πηγή: | Nursing outlook [Nurs Outlook] 2026 Mar-Apr; Vol. 74 (2), pp. 102697. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Feb 06. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Scoping Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Mosby Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0401075 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1528-3968 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00296554 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Nurs Outlook Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: St. Louis, Mo : Mosby Original Publication: New York, American Journal of Nursing Co. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Nursing Research* , Systems Theory* , Nursing Theory*, Humans ; Leadership |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory is well-suited to address the dynamic, nonlinear nature of nursing. However, its application across the nursing research landscape lacks synthesis. Purpose: To map the application of CAS theory in nursing research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP) were systematically searched in June 2025 for English and Chinese publications. Discussion: CAS theory provides a practical framework for understanding complexity in nursing. Analysis of 27 studies identified five application domains: nursing management and leadership, clinical practice and patient safety, interprofessional collaboration, education and competency development, and research methodology innovation. The field is evolving from theoretical discussion to empirical application, yet a significant gap remains in using computational simulations. Conclusion: This review synthesizes the applied value of CAS theory while revealing key methodological gaps. Future work requires interdisciplinary collaboration to develop dynamic models and translate complexity principles into actionable strategies for leadership, policy, and education to foster more resilient healthcare systems. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Complex adaptive systems; Nonlinear dynamics; Nursing; Scoping review; Self-organization |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260207 Date Completed: 20260707 Latest Revision: 20260707 |
| Update Code: | 20260707 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.outlook.2026.102697 |
| PMID: | 41653546 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1528-3968 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.outlook.2026.102697 |