Relationship Between Perspective-Taking, Boundary-Crossing Experiences, and Collaborative Practice in Discharge Planning Among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: Effective discharge planning requires ward nurses to understand the circumstances of receiving facilities. Perspective-taking-the active cognitive process of imagining another party's situation-may play a central role in promoting interfacility collaboration. This study examined a theoretical process model that positions perspective-taking, nurses' boundary-crossing experiences, and their collaborative practice in discharge planning.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with acute care nurses in Japan in 2021. Perspective-taking and collaborative practice in discharge planning were measured using validated scales. Boundary-crossing experiences, encompassing other-facility experience and interaction opportunities with external professionals, were assessed using newly developed measures. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the fit of the proposed theoretical model.

RESULTS: Data from 416 respondents were analyzed. Perspective-taking was significantly associated with collaborative practice in discharge planning (p < 0.05). Both other-facility experience and interaction opportunities were significantly associated with perspective-taking (p < 0.05). The theoretical process model met the criteria for good fit (comparative fit index = 0.93; root mean square error of approximation = 0.07; standardized root mean square residual = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that ward nurses' boundary-crossing experiences are positively associated with perspective-taking, and perspective-taking supports collaborative practice in discharge planning. Providing nurses with diverse facility experiences and external interactions could promote interfacility collaboration.