Patti Hamilton, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX
Jane Englebright Pollock, San Antonio Community Hospital, San Antonio, TX
De Ann F. Mitchell, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX
Angela E. Vicenzi, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT
Bruce J. West, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Abstract: In this article, the authors present an overview of the applications of chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics to problems of relevance not only to nurses, but to anyone dealing with human functioning and interaction. These applications have been in the areas of epidemiology, nursing management and physiological functioning. In some cases, the applications were successful in identifying information that would have been overlooked using traditional methods. In other cases, the problems of data collection and analysis, unique to nonlinear dynamics, are still being developed and tested.

Keywords: chaos, nonlinear dynamics, epidemiology, nursing, management, physiology