Objective To develop and preliminarily apply the handbook tool which is suitable for the practical training course of nursing students in school. Methods A total of 17 experts from 5 colleges and universities and 2 Class Ⅲ Grade A comprehensive hospitals in Shandong Province were interviewed by Delphi method to determine the module of handbook tools and the contents of second-level items. A total of 101 nursing students enrolled in 2021 were selected as research objects, and were divided into the experimental group (n=51) and the control group (n=50). The experimental group used the handbook tool to study in the practical training course, while the control group used the conventional learning method to analyze and evaluate the role of the handbook tool in improving students′ independent learning ability and training effect. Results The authoritative degree of three rounds of expert consultation were 0.797, 0.830, 0.868;The Kendall harmony coefficient of the handbook tool module and secondary content items is 0.117 to 0.229 (P<0.05 for all). Five handbook modules and the contents of second-level items were determined, including self-knowledge and learning planning, weekly plan, learning record of practical training project, weekly reflection and monthly summary. After intervention, the scores of operation scores, independent learning ability, and self-management sub-dimensions of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 for all). Conclusion Three rounds of expert consultation to determine the handbook tool experts have a high degree of authority, good coordination. The application of handbook tools in nursing training courses has improved the level of independent learning ability and practicaltraining effect of nursing students.