The global ageing population and increasing burden of chronic diseases have created an urgent demand for highly qualified, application-oriented nursing professionals. However, traditional nursing education models face multiple challenges, including a disconnect between theory and practice, difficulties in training for high-risk procedures, uneven distribution of clinical resources, and insufficient training in humanistic care. This necessitates paradigm-level innovation and transformation. This article explores the role of virtual simulation technology as a core driver in propelling China’s nursing education from traditional models toward a new paradigm of deep integration among teaching, learning, and practice. It also analyzes the associated challenges.