Once the professional practice gap has been identified, the course Directors begin to select individuals to assist with planning the educational activity by forming a Planning Committee; that includes a Nurse Planner to participate as a member of an interprofessional planning team. The Planning Committee must include at least two people, and two disciplines, when the activity is interprofessional: the Nurse Planner, a content expert as well as representation of other disciplines. The Nurse Planner may function as both the Nurse Planner and the content expert; however, two people must be involved with planning each educational activity to validate that the content is relevant to the learners. Other individuals may be selected, as appropriate, to help plan the activity. The Nurse Planner ensures that the educational activity is developed in compliance with accreditation criteria.

Planning continues with further analysis of the professional practice gap. The Nurse Planner and Planning Committee evaluate the root causes of the gap for preceptors, or why the gap exists. If the gap is related to a lack of knowledge, skills, and/or practices of learner groups, an educational intervention is appropriate and will be addresses in each session of this activity.