title: A conversation about practice development and knowledge translation as mechanisms to align the academic and clinical contexts for the advancement of nursing practice.
abstract: Practice development (PD) and knowledge translation (KT) have emerged recently as methodologies which assist advancement in gathering and using evidence in practice. For nursing to benefit from these methodologies there is a need to advance the dialogue between academia and the service sector concerning the use and further development of these methodologies as well as how we create the most effective partnerships between academia and practice. To advance this dialogue and to gain insights into the similarities and differences between KT and PD and between the academic and the service sectors, four conversations from different leaders in these sectors have been gathered and are presented here. These four discrete narratives are presented to showcase the diversity of sector contexts in relation to PD and KT methodologies. Narrative One focuses on some of the theoretical and policy issues related to creating partnerships between traditional "knowledge creation systems" (universities) and "knowledge utilization systems" Narrative Two discusses how a large school of nursing responded to the challenge of creating partnerships for practice development in an attempt to bridge the academic/service divide and produce benefits to both organisations. Narratives Three and Four describe the view of practice development from the service side. The final section of the paper presents an agenda for discussion and action based on the emerging set of principles.
authors: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, University of Wollongong, Nursing Development and Research Unit, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Australia. Ken.Walsh@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Walsh
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Kitson
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Cross
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Thoms
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Thornton
authors: Cheryle
authors: C
authors: Moss
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Campbell
authors: Iain
authors: I
authors: Graham
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D013192:Staff Development; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000458:organization & administration