Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of narrative nursing combined with standardized management of cancer pain on the cognitive ability of patients with cancer pain. Methods A total of 116 patients with cancer pain who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from April 2020 to September 2021 were enrolled. According to the random table number method, they were divided into two groups (n=58):a control group and an observation group. The control group patients were given standardized management of cancer pain, while the observation group patients underwent narrative nursing combined with standardized management of cancer pain. Both groups were compared for the scores of the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA), the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) before and after the intervention.Results There were no statistical difference in NRS, frequency of burst pain, MMSE, MOCA, SAS and SDS scores between the two groups beforeintervention. After intervention, the observation group showed remarkable decreases in NRS score and the frequency of burst pain, compared with the control group (P<0.05).The MMSE and MOCA scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the SAS and SDS scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions Narrative nursing combined with standardized management of cancer pain can remarkably relieve pain in cancer patients, and improve the cognitive ability and psychological state of patients.