If I recall correctly, I think it was used in probably at least a quarter of the last dozen romances that I’ve read, probably a third, though with a full-length novel’s spacious room to play around in, the ‘nursing’ part occupied only a small part of the whole. I do recall seeing it used either way, with the male or the female character being injured, and needing care from the other, but more often the male needing care, and his tender nurse becoming caring, and then attracted, towards him, as she tends his wounds and nurses him back to health.

In the confines of a short story, it would, necessarily, I think, be a major focus, since the short story covers approximately the same span of words as a couple of chapters does in a novel. I think it works out okay between Jofuran and Nicolai, in their story, partly because it is part of a larger story arc, to be read in close sequence.

Otherwise, I think that I’d limit the cooing and turtledoving around such an event. Last time I was ill with the flu with an SO around, I only got checked in the morning to see that there were sufficient fluids and snacks stocked near the bed, then it was off to work. After all, I was pretty likely to recover. As just a touch of ‘life’ to the story, I think that it could work, where the downed officer just needs an adhesive bandage to cover a small scrape received while falling. As a plot device to get him to see what you want him to see – works for me, so long as you don’t dwell on it. Like the McGuffin, introduce it, then move on to the action.