Abstract: The cultivation of top innovative nursing talents with Chinese characteristics in the new era serves as important support for achieving the strategic goal of “Healthy China”. This paper reviews the historical development of nursing science in China, clarifies the connotation of nursing science with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and highlights the essential qualities and competencies that top innovative nursing talents should possess. It further analyzes the missions and challenges in cultivating these nursing talents, and puts forward new approaches including constructing new ideological and political education theories specific to nursing science with Chinese characteristics, establishing a multidisciplinary educational model of “Nursing+X”, and creating a talent cultivation ecosystem adapted to the era of human-machine integration. This study provides theoretical insights for cultivating top innovative nursing talents who align their development closely with national strategic needs, embody patriotism, and hold a strong sense of contemporary responsibility.