Relational Practice: A Concept Analysis

Abstract

Relational practice is increasingly being recognized as a core framework within contemporary nursing, shifting care away from task-focused routines and towards person-facilitated relationships grounded in compassion, ethics, and mindful engagement. Based in active listening, empathy, respect, and teamwork, relational practice addresses rising healthcare complexity through the development of purposeful therapeutic alliances between nurses, patients, and interprofessional team members (Smith, 2020; Hartrick Doane & Varcoe, 2021). With health care embracing digital platforms, relational competence ensures nurses' human interaction in spite of technological barriers (Smith & Kennedy, 2023). Concept analysis of relational practice undertakes this endeavor to demystify its defining features, antecedents, and consequences and highlight its top priority as it advances nursing theory, ethics, and patient outcomes. Theory assessment is an outcome of the dominance of Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations and Watson's Theory of Human Caring over the current nursing theories, which are especially applicable in a direct sense. These types of theories are intended for relational practice core areas such as trust, empathy, and adaptive nurse-patient relationships. In addition, current relational practice is assisted by Leininger's Culture Care Theory, Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory, Parse's Human Becoming Theory, and Relational Ethics principles. These models provide for a sophisticated conceptualization of relational practice based on cultural competence, patient empowerment, holistic care, and ethical involvement in nursing practice. Relational practice strengthens trust, reduces inequalities, and increases patient satisfaction and adherence through culturally responsive care, effective communication, and emotional intelligence (Johnson & Watson, 2019; Rouleau et al., 2023). Relational practice enables nurses to provide ethical, holistic care while facilitating interprofessional collaboration and safety in physical and virtual spaces (McCaffrey et al., 2022; Zou & Lau, 2023). Grounded in nursing theory and advocacy, relational practice is a necessary building block of effective, equitable, and ethical care in contemporary global health. Intentional incorporation into practice, education, and leadership is necessary to meet the demands of emerging healthcare environments.