title: A Concept Analysis of Systems Thinking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This concept analysis, written by the National Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) RN-BSN Task Force, defines systems thinking in relation to healthcare delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature was conducted using five databases with the keywords "systems thinking" as well as "nursing education," "nursing curriculum," "online," "capstone," "practicum," "RN-BSN/RN to BSN," "healthcare organizations," "hospitals," and "clinical agencies." Only articles that focused on systems thinking in health care were used. The authors identified defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of systems thinking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systems thinking was defined as a process applied to individuals, teams, and organizations to impact cause and effect where solutions to complex problems are accomplished through collaborative effort according to personal ability with respect to improving components and the greater whole. Four primary attributes characterized systems thinking: dynamic system, holistic perspective, pattern identification, and transformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the platform provided in this concept analysis, interprofessional practice has the ability to embrace planned efforts to improve critically needed quality and safety initiatives across patients' lifespans and all healthcare settings.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor at Wright State University, Dayton, OH.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stalter
authors.affiliation: Clinical Associate Professor and Director of RN to BSN Degree Completion Option at, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Accelerated BSN Program at New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ.
authors.forename: Jeanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator at New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Scardaville
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor at Daemen College, Amherst, NY.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merriam
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Director, QSEN Institute, Director of Interprofessional Integration and Education Center of Excellence in Primary Care, VA Quality Scholars Program, Senior Nurse Fellow Louis Stokes Cleveland VA at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dolansky
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor and Department Chair for Division of Undergraduate Nursing RN-BSN Completion Department at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor RN-BSN Track Administrator at The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wiggs
authors.affiliation: an Associate Professor and Director of nursing at, Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH.
authors.forename: Sherri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winegardner
mesh_terms: D003210:Concept Formation; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D013597:Systems Analysis