Purpose: To clarify the current state of role recognition regarding advance care planning (ACP) among ward nurses and its associated factors. Methods: A survey was conducted among nurses working at 10 facilities in Ibaraki Prefecture to determine whether they were expected to play a role in ACP implementation by ‘cancer patients and their families’ ‘non-cancer patients and their families’ and ‘other healthcare professionals’ thereby assessing their role recognition regarding ACP. Results: Nurses recognized that they were expected to engage in ACP more by ‘cancer patients and their families’ than by ‘non-cancer patients and their families’. Additionally, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence or absence of ACP education (OR=4.30–7.17) influenced nurses’ role recognition regarding ACP, regardless of the category of patients or family members. Furthermore, among ‘cancer patients and their families’ and ‘other healthcare professionals’ ‘recognition of the importance of ACP in the ward’ (OR=2.11–2.21) was found to influence the role perception of ACP. Conclusion: It is necessary to assign ACP educators to wards to enhance ward nurses’ role perception regarding ACP.