Clinical nurse specialists perspectives on advance care planning conversations: a qualitative study

The aim of the study was to identify the challenges experienced by clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) when facilitating advance care planning (ACP) conversations with terminally ill patients. This paper focuses on the factors that influence CNSs when they are deciding whether to open an ACP discussion.

Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from eight purposively selected palliative care CNSs working in two different community teams. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed to identify themes.

ACP required the CNSs to 'walk a tightrope', balancing potential harm with purported benefit. The nurses identified that their decision to introduce an ACP discussion was influenced by three key factors: an assessment of the patient's readiness to discuss the topic, their physical condition, and the nurse's relationship with the patient and family.

ACP involves risk-taking on the part of those initiating it, owing to the potential for unforeseen or negative consequences. Further research is required to identify the factors that facilitate nurses involving patients in ACP.