This article describes the nursing care of a patient with terminal-stage lung cancer who was admitted to the intensive care unit due to sudden deterioration of health. Moreover, we share the experiences of the patient and the family members facing the unexpected emergency, changes in health condition, and the need for intensive care as well as their experiences with holistic care. During the nursing period October 22-29, 2015, problems associated with nursing care were identified through the actual holistic care process, direct observation, physical assessment, and conversation skills. The problems included abnormal gas exchange, pain, and the patient's wife's anticipated grief. During the care period, the caregiver had to use professional skills to assess the health problems of the patient and the family needs, maintain the patient's vital signs of life and reduce pain, provide relevant information and guidance to increase patient's comfort and the family's awareness, provide positive emotional support and company, reduce the psychological anxiety of the family members, provide bereavement counseling and holistic care, and coordinate with the family members to help the patient achieve positive thinking about death. On the basis of our study findings, we suggest future medical teams to implement a holistic approach to care for terminally ill patients. We believe our findings would act as a reference for caregivers providing critical end-of-life care to such patients.