Objective To facilitate lung cancer patients successfully complete surgery and to enhance postoperative recovery.Methods Totally, 120 patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer were divided into a control group and an intervention group chronologically, with 60 patients in each group.The control group received routine perioperative nursing care, while the intervention group received patient-centered full-chain nursing care, involving "outpatient clinic attendance, pre-admission （home）, hospitalization, and home rehabilitation （community）".The intervention lasted until 3 months post discharge.Results A total of 48 cases in the control group and 47 in the intervention group completed the study.The length of hospital stay, incidence of postoperative pneumonia and lower extremity venous thrombosis in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group （all P＜0.05）.Satisfaction with nursing service at discharge and quality of life were significantly higher, whereas the rate and frequency of readmissions within 3 months of discharge were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group （all P＜0.05）.Conclusion The implementation of individualized full-chain nursing management is conducive to patient preparedness for surgery, timely access to surgery and postoperative rehabilitation, thus to enhance patients′ recovery and quality of life.