In 1949, NTUH had a total of 518 beds and only about 60 nurses. During this stage, NTUH was faced with many challenges as there was the need to address a number of largely neglected matters without the means or organization to do so. Given this, a nursing department would be called upon to embark on a most difficult, unwieldy and previously unchartered course.

The Nursing Department of NTUH, with a nursing director, was formally established in August of 1949 and has a history of 66 years. During these years, there have been 11 nursing directors: Tsui-Yu Chen who held the position from August 1949 to February 1958; Hsi-Mei Ying from February 1958 to October 1972; Hsin-Hsin Chung from October 1972 to July 1978; Yu-Mei Yu from August 1978 to July 1984; Chao-Feng Chow from August 1984 to July 1992; Yueh-Chih Chen from August 1992 to July 1996; Shu-Jen Shiau from August 1996 to July 1999; Lian-Hua Huang from August 1999 to January 2005, and Yu-Tzu Dai from February 2005 to July 2009, and Lian-Hua Huang from August 2009 to July 2015, and Yeur-Hur Lai from August 2015 to present. The nursing development and achievements of the eleven nursing directors can be divided into these 3 stages: "Initial nursing profession period", "Nursing concept transition period", and "Nursing profession promotion period".