Interventions that improved a practice environment: "making a difference".

This paper reports on the intervention phase of a participatory action study designed to improve the practice environment within a critical care unit in a research teaching hospital. The intervention strategy involved the hiring of a facilitator who worked with unit staff to engage in a process of addressing their priority issues related to the practice environment. Examples of interventions included staff retreats, communication workshops, task groups and leadership training. Challenges and key learnings are reported.