In the moments between clinical tasks, narration of care is not just a tactic or best practice —it becomes a bridge between the nurse and patient. Defined simply, narration of care verbally connects the patient’s experience to the nurse’s intention, transforming routine interactions into moments of clarity, comfort and connection. Narration of care moves us toward empathy by reminding us not to assume patients or their loved ones understand the process—regardless of background, education or hospital familiarity.

At Houston Methodist, doing right by our patients means putting ourselves in their shoes and crafting communication that meets them where they are. That is empathy in action.

Narration of care also supports safety and quality. When my son was born five weeks early, I was a healthy first-time mom with no signs of early labor. When I was evaluated, I was already five centimeters dilated. On the way to the delivery room, the nurse told me, “We will not check you again; your water will break next.” It didn’t. About an hour later, I noticed a small drip of blood. Not wanting to bother the nurses, I asked my husband to update them at the nurses' station. The nurse returned, checked me, and I was nine centimeters dilated. Moments later, my son’s heart rate dropped, and we prepared for an emergency C-section. My water had never broken—it had to be done manually by the physician.

Had I not spoken up, the outcome could have been different. This experience highlighted that narration of care should include outlining what may occur as a worst-case or less-than-ideal scenario and inviting the patient to advocate if something felt wrong. The nurse could have said:

“If your water doesn’t break or you notice anything unusual, please let us know immediately.”

Narration of care helps patients know what to expect, what to watch for, and how to alert the team—impacting safety and outcomes.