Guardianship at the Bedside: Narrative Nursing and Humanistic Care in the ICU - A Reflection Inspired by Being Mortal

Based on the theoretical perspective of Being Mortal, this article explores the clinical practice and value of narrative nursing and humanistic care in the ICU, analyzing the inherent tension between technical rationality and humanistic care therein.Through real clinical cases, this paper elucidates the practical value of narrative nursing in addressing ethical dilemmas in medical practice.Specific implementation pathways are proposed across three dimensions: empathetic communication, family coordination, and narrative transmission within healthcare teams.In response to ICU nurses' occupational burnout, strategies are suggested to enhance psychological resilience through narrative reflection and the construction of "third spaces."The article emphasizes that ICU nurses should become "life narrators," achieving a dialectical synthesis between technological intervention and humanistic care.