To develop a nurse-patient communication process for patient with cancer in China based on the American CICARE communication model and to provide standardized and processed guidance for communication between clinical nurses and cancer patients.

Totally 5 clinical nursing experts from a Class Ⅲ Grade A hospital in Beijing were selected by purposive sampling and interviewed using focus group discussion between November and December 2018.

The nurse-patient communication process was developed based on the CICARE communication model after two rounds of focus group discussions, whose six steps were polite connection, complete introduction, professional explanation, careful asking, patient response and proper exit, which included role adaptation of nurses, admission evaluation, coordination during hospitalization, case management, care and health education.

A nurse-patient communication process for cancer patients in China is developed using nurse-patient communication models from other countries and clinical nursing practice for reference, which provides a reference for nurse-patients communication and lays a foundation for carrying out the optimal nursing service demo projects and refined management.

Neoplasms; Nurse-patients communication; CICARE communication model; Optimal nursing service; Focus group discussion