This qualitative study explored how nurses facilitate Advance Care Planning (ACP) for older adults with unplanned hospitalizations in hectic acute care settings.
Analysis of interviews with 22 nurses revealed that, although ACP is often deprioritized due to time constraints, nurses perceive unplanned hospitalization as an important opportunity for patients and families to reflect on future care and ways of living. Even within brief and fragmented encounters, nurses facilitated ACP by accumulating short interactions over time.
This study demonstrates that, rather than being carried out by a single nurse, it is orchestrated by multiple nurses and, occasionally, other professionals. Each contributes what they can in the moment, anticipating handoffs as patients are transferred, involving multiple providers. The findings offer practical insights for nurses who experience challenges in facilitating ACP in acute care settings.
