[1] Both of his parents were athletes in their youth: his father Richard Nurse played as a wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, while his mother Cathy was a college basketball player for the McMaster Marauders.

[3] Standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 176 pounds (80 kg) by the age of 15,[citation needed] Nurse established himself quickly as a strong, physically assertive defenceman for the Don Mills Flyers minor ice hockey team.

After the Greyhounds' season ended, Nurse joined the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons.

[14] On March 10, 2016, Nurse was suspended three games for "serving as the aggressor" during an altercation with San Jose Sharks defenceman Roman Polák.

[24] That same season, Nurse was one of only four underage players[25] to play with Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships, winning the bronze medal.

[28] On April 12, 2018, Nurse and teammates Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were named to the Team Canada's 2018 IIHF World Championship roster.

[29] On April 29, 2019, Nurse returned to the international stage to be named to the Team Canada roster for the 2019 IIHF World Championship held in Slovakia.

Nurse attended St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School[32] and St. Mary's College, where he was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy for "OHL Scholastic Player of the Year" following the 2012–13 season.

[39][40] His uncle Donovan McNabb was an NFL quarterback who played in six Pro Bowls and had his number retired by the Philadelphia Eagles.