Teaching and learning practice development for change.

The current expectation in health care for nurses to use research evidence when making decisions about patient care practices requires a change in the culture of nursing service delivery. There are many different approaches to support this change. One approach frequently referred to in contemporary literature is practice development, which aims not just for understanding and acquiring new knowledge, but also for implementing change by improving clinical practice and increasing effectiveness in patient care. Its success depends on skilled change agents or facilitators. This article discusses strategies used in a workshop to educate and prepare practice development facilitators for effecting change.