Alcohol-intoxicated patients in the emergency department (ED) can be very challenging. That is why nursing staff need different kind of skills to promote effective healthcare to these patients. The aim was to describe nursing staff's self-assessed skills concerning the care of acutely ill alcohol-intoxicated patients in EDs. A descriptive quantitative survey was used to measure Finnish ED nursing staff's (N = 1220, n = 252) skills in this area. The data were analysed statistically. The staff had the best skills in the care of acutely ill alcohol-intoxicated patients in security and safety issues. The skills related to follow-up treatment were the poorest area. The background factors that had a statistically significant association with the skills were work experience in psychiatric nursing or intoxicant care as well as alcohol use related training. Work experience increases ED staff's skills in alcohol intoxicant care, but with updating education these skills would possibility be better to acquire earlier in a nurse's working career.