Leading With Clarity and Grace: Navigating Difficult Conversations in Faith Community Nursing

Leading With Clarity and Grace: Navigating Difficult Conversations in
Faith Community Nursing

Dr. Sandy Kay Roncal, DNP, RN
Sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association

DATE: April 7, 2026
TIME: 3-5 pm AKT, 4-6 pm PT, 5-7 pm MT, 6-8 pm CT, 7-9 pm ET

Registration fee: $30 for LFCNA members/$50 for non-members
Nursing Contact hours provided: 2.0 (see below)

Please note that we do not accept American Express Credit Cards

Course Description: This educational activity addresses communication skill development to support ethical, professional, and spiritually grounded nursing practice within faith community settings. The session explores common types of difficult conversations encountered in faith community nursing and examines the relational and ethical complexities unique to ministry-based care. Participants will learn to navigate challenging discussions with clarity, compassion, and professional integrity using a structural communication framework. The presentation includes didactic instruction, demonstration of practical communication strategies that integrate professional standards and Christian compassion, interactive role-play scenarios, guided discussion, and opportunities for reflective practice.

While the primary audience for this event is Faith Community Nurses, nurses and non-nurses who serve in other settings are encouraged to attend. This may include clergy, lay leaders and others. All are welcome. This topic is important for all of us, as we all encounter difficult conversations.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this session the participants will:
➢ Differentiate common types of difficult conversations encountered in faith community nursing practice
➢ Apply a structured communication framework to navigate ethically complex or relationally sensitive scenarios
➢ Demonstrate boundary-setting and conflict-resolution language that reflects professional nursing standards and Christian compassion
➢ Identify one actionable strategy to strengthen confidence in addressing challenging conversations within ministry-based settings

Our Speaker: Dr. Sandy Kay Roncal, DNP, RN, is Director of the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing at the University of Louisiana Monroe and brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to her work. Beginning her career as a licensed practical nurse in 1995 and advancing through clinical, educational, and leadership roles, she is deeply committed to strengthening the nursing profession through ethical leadership and professional integrity. A Doctor or Nursing Practice-prepared educator, Dr. Roncal has served in multiple academic leadership positions and currently holds an endowed profession in nursing. Her scholarship and presentations focus on professional civility, communication, and leadership development. She is the author of Seven Steps for Having Difficult Conversations in the American Nurse Journal. She is honored to partner with nurses who serve in ministry-based roles, supporting their work with practical tools and steadfast encouragement.

This nursing activity has been submitted to the Montana Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. Montana Nurses Association is accredited with distinction as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. To receive contact hours for this event, attendees must attend the entire event and submit a completed evaluation form.