Relational Communication Competence in Nursing Leadership and Management: A Concept Analysis

To clarify the concept of relational communication competence (RCC) within nursing leadership and management through concept analysis.

No unified conceptual definition currently bridges leadership, communication competence, and person-centered care in nursing, a gap that constrains both competency frameworks and workforce development. While the issue is illustrated through the context of older-adult care, the analysis extends more broadly to nursing leadership and management across diverse clinical and organizational settings.

We conducted a concept analysis guided by Walker and Avant's framework. A structured search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and APA PsycNet yielded 19 eligible studies. Two reviewers independently extracted conceptual definitions, communication behaviors, and theoretical constructs from each study into a structured concept matrix, then compared entries iteratively until recurring patterns consolidated into defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents, with no new attributes emerging from the final studies reviewed.

The analysis identified three defining attributes: relational sensitivity, effective information exchange, and collaborative engagement. All three attributes must co-occur: No single attribute alone constitutes RCC, and this combination has not been consistently specified in nursing leadership scholarship. Antecedents included communication knowledge, cultural awareness, structured dialog opportunities, and supportive organizational climates. Consequences included stronger therapeutic relationships, greater patient engagement, improved team collaboration, and reduced clinical uncertainty. Empirical referents included empathic listening, transparent clinical explanation, verified shared understanding, and facilitated dialog.

RCC is defined as the capacity for healthcare communication that is responsive to contextual and emotional cues, informationally clear, and participatory across patients, families, and professionals. The analysis offers an integrated framework for bringing relational leadership, communication competence, and person-centered care into closer conceptual alignment in nursing practice.

Nurse managers require programs that develop all three attributes together, embedding RCC as a unified leadership capability rather than treating awareness, information exchange, and participation as separate concerns.