The article relates the terms intuition, tacit knowledge and experience and describes their meaning for nursing. An empirical study with 16 experienced nurses is presented whereby the nurses had to deal with a simulated critical nursing situation. Basing on their actions a method for explication of action-guiding tacit knowledge was developed so that a closer scrutinizing of this type of knowledge became possible. Results underline the assumption of many practitioners that intuition as a resource in nursing activities is not to underestimate. At the same time a warning is given: Intuition and tacit knowledge is not always and at all times to evaluate positively. Finally, this differentiated point of view is discussed regarding consequences for nursing practice.