Abstract: Objective To explore ICU nurses’ cognitive experience of acute skin failure. Methods Study participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 intensive care nurses who met the inclusion criteria in the comprehensive intensive care unit of a tertiary Grade A hospital in Hangzhou from August to December 2022. Colaizzi phenomenological research method was used to analyze the interview data. Results Four themes were extracted，including perceived benefits of recognizing acute skin failure， expectation of establishing norms for the management of acute skin failure care，desire to have knowledge sharing across disciplines，and awareness of inadequate information support for ICU families regarding acute skin failure. Conclusion Nursing managers can promote the clinical practice of skin care for critically ill patients by emphasizing the cognitive management of acute skin failure by clinical nurses，formulating operative nursing management protocols for acute skin failure，and constructing information support program for peri-critical patients’ families regarding acute skin failure. It is also necessary to actively explore the multidisciplinary knowledge sharing model from the perspective of skin organ，promote innovative scientific research on skin care，and ultimately achieve high-quality development of skin care in the critical care field.

Key words: Intensive Care Units, Acute Skin Failure, Pressure Injury, Qualitative Study