In 1926, Smuts put forward the concept of "holistic". Then, this concept was introduced into the field of nursing. The presentation of system theory, levels and models of people's needs, theory of solving-problem provided the theoretical base for "holistic nursing". Beginning from the definition of health provided by WHO in 1948, many scholars put forward a set of nursing concepts, such as nursing process, theory of goal attainment, holistic human body, etc. In these concepts, the concept of holistic nursing was improved gradually, and finally formed the thought and method which were focused on patients, guided by concept of modern nursing, based on the nursing process, and it applied the systematic nursing process into the clinical nursing and its administration. At present, holistic nursing has been applied widely in the world. Reviewing its history will benefit the understanding of its connotation, and its application in the clinic for further improvement.