With the continuous integration of the concept of "classification management" and the development of the medical and health, more and more medical researchers are paying attention to the importance of individual heterogeneity between groups. Latent class analysis (LCA) , as an emerging statistical method, has significant implications for identifying heterogeneity. This article reviews the concept and application steps of LCA, as well as its application status in the fields of chronic disease management, continuing care, nursing management, and nursing psychology research. This article also points out the advantages and limitations of LCA in the field of nursing, aiming to further deepen the understanding of LCA among nursing researchers in China and provide reference for its accurate application in nursing.