Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a sudden, life-threatening skin reaction that is most often caused by hypersensitivity to certain medications. Genetic factors and gender also influence this disease's development – women are more likely to get sick. The diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis is based primarily on skin lesions' characteristic image, while treatment of this disease is complex and multistage. The most important is to quickly identify the disease-inducing factor and to start intensive patient supervision because too late diagnosis or inadequate treatment may cause serious complications such as respiratory failure or septic shock. Ailments accompanying the disease, especially pain, contribute to a decrease in the patient’s quality of life. In order to achieve beneficial effects of treatment, it is necessary to specify the priority goal of nursing care, which is to improve the quality of patient’s functioning. The study aimed to review current recommendations for therapeutic management and present the nursing role in patient care with a diagnosis of toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Key words: nursing care, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Lyell’s syndrome, dermatology.