Orchestrating Human Connection in Digital NICUs: Leadership Strategies for Technology‐Enhanced Family‐Centred Care

Aim(s) To explore how neonatal nurse leaders sustain human‐centred care while implementing digital technologies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Design Qualitative descriptive multi‐site study across four NICUs in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia (November 2024–May 2025), reported in accordance with COREQ. Methods Purposive maximum‐variation sampling recruited 24 neonatal nurse leaders across leadership levels, hospital types and digital maturity stages. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted in Arabic or English, transcribed, translated as needed and thematically analysed in NVivo 14 using a hybrid inductive–deductive approach. Directed content analysis of key organisational documents enabled triangulation. Trustworthiness was supported through member checking, peer debriefing, audit trail, external review and double coding of a subset of transcripts. Results Four interrelated strategies were identified: (1) embedding a values‐based human‐centred vision; (2) selecting and customising digital tools to strengthen, not replace, nurse–family connection; (3) redesigning workflows (e.g., device‐free openings, protected presence time, family‐inclusive portals) to preserve presence and partnership; and (4) fostering team capability and psychological safety for digital–human integration. Conclusion Human‐centred care in digital NICUs is intentionally led and structurally engineered. The study offers a practice‐ready framework that translates values into reproducible routines within complex sociotechnical systems. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care The framework supports nurse leaders in aligning digital transformation with family‐centred care, protecting nurse–family presence, and enhancing safety, trust and partnership for high‐risk neonates. Impact Addresses risks of relational erosion in digital and AI‐enabled NICUs and provides transferable nurse‐led strategies to sustain ethical, family‐centred practice. Reporting Method COREQ‐compliant qualitative study. Patient or Public Contribution No Patient or Public Contribution.