The theoretical approach of open systems theory was developed in the 1940s by Ludwig von Bertalanffy, who referred to it as general systems theory. Since then, the theoretical model has been expanded. Specifically, systems theory was refined by the work of Kast and Rosenzweig (1972), who describe seven key concepts:
• Open to environment
• Interrelated subsystems
• Input-transformation-output process
• Teleology or purpose
• Feedback
• Homeostasis
• Equifinality
Aim and Method
This study explores whether the seven component concepts of the open systems framework can be used to analyze and document existing literature on regulatory trends.
To identify literature on professional nurse regulatory trends, the authors performed a systematic search of published
literature, using CINAHL and PUBMED, and grey literature, using Google and Yahoo search engines, utilizing key terms and logical operators. A number of inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Specifically, papers in English or Spanish and less than 20 years old were included, and opinion-based, nonreferenced papers were excluded.
The search strategy used four main sets of terms: regulation OR regulatory, nurse OR nursing, profession OR professional, and issues OR trends OR environmental scan. These four groups were then combined using the logical operator and.
A total of 64 retrieved papers were imported into Nvivo version 9 and then coded against the seven concepts identified by Kast and Rosenzweig (1972). To improve reliability, the principal author coded material, and the other authors independently reviewed the coding. The four authors reviewed differences or variations in coding until congruence of opinion was reached. The review uses the open systems framework and begins with an operational definition of the concept followed by identified themes and subthemes.