This paper employs a historical research method, utilizing a synthesis of contemporary Chinese and English sources, including periodicals and archival materials, to systematically delineate the evolutionary trajectory of nursing schools in modern China (1884–1949), with these schools serving as the primary focus of investigation. The study finds that their development experienced three principal phases: Germination and Emergence (1884–1912), initiated by Western missionaries with a focus on apprenticeship-style training; Standardization and Indigenization (1912–1937), driven toward standardization by the Chinese Nurses' Association and toward indigenization by nationalist sentiment and government intervention; and Setback and Transition (1937–1949), where war necessitated a shift of administrative authority from missionary organizations toward the State, leading to a significant educational restructuring. Nursing schools served as the core vehicle for the transplantation and institutionalization of the modern nursing knowledge system and professional framework in China, propelling the crucial shift from an apprenticeship model to a school-based system. Examining these historical achievements and limitations offers significant insights for deepening nursing education reform and fostering industry-education integration in the new era.