Objective To explore the effect of family empowerment nursing model on reducing iatrogenic skin damage in very preterm infants. Methods A total of 90 very premature infants admitted to our hospital from February 2021 to May 2022 were selected as the research objects. They were divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 45 cases in each group. The control group received routine nursing, while the observation group received family empowerment nursing mode. The outcomes of very early preterm infants, family competency scores, nursing satisfaction, and iatrogenic skin injury rates were compared between the two groups. Results The incidence of iatrogenic skin injury in the observation group was 2.22%, which was lower than 11.11% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The nosocomial infection rate and the infection rate 1 month after discharge in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The scores of family competence and nursing satisfaction in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion The application of family empowerment nursing model in reducing iatrogenic skin injury in very preterm infants is effective, which can reduce the nosocomial infection rate of children, improve the nursing satisfaction, and is worthy of clinical application.