Suture and Staple Removal
Nursing Procedure
Wound Care
Infection Prevention
Critical Decision Points
100

This type of material is used to sew body tissues together and can be absorbent or nonabsorbent.

What are sutures?


100

Before removing sutures, the nurse should review this from the health care provider to know which sutures to remove.

What is the prescription?


100

If this occurs during suture removal, the remaining sutures or staples are left in place and the health care provider is notified.

What is suture line separation?


100

This action must be taken if any signs of infection are observed at the incision site after suture removal.

What is report it to the health care provider?


100

If wound edges are separated or signs of infection are present, the nurse should notify this individual immediately.

Who is the health care provider?


200

Sutures and staples are generally removed within this time frame after surgery if healing is adequate.

What is 7 to 14 days?


200

To reduce the spread of infections, nurses must perform this action during the 4 moments of patient contact.

What is hand hygiene?


200

These types of gloves should be used if the patient has a latex allergy.

What are latex-free gloves?


200

This type of technique is required during suture or staple removal to prevent infection.

What is aseptic technique?


200

During suture removal, Steri-Strips can be applied to support the wound if there is concern about this happening.

What is wound dehiscence?


300

This type of suture usually remains in place for 14 to 21 days.

What are retention sutures?


300

This should be assessed before removing sutures to determine the patient’s comfort level.

What is pain level?


300

A patient's wound healing ability may be impaired by pre-existing conditions such as this chronic disease affecting blood sugar levels.

What is diabetes?


300

After removing sutures or staples, the nurse should clean the incision with antiseptic swabs or sterile saline, using a new one for each swipe to remove these.

What is surface bacteria?


300

Nurses should stop suture removal immediately if they observe this during the procedure.

What is wound separation or poor healing?


400

These stainless steel closures are quick to use and provide strength, often used in abdominal incisions and orthopedic surgery.

What are staples?


400

After suture or staple removal, this type of strip is applied to provide support to the incision.

What are Steri-Strips?


400

Following suture or staple removal, the nurse should observe for any signs of this condition that involves the reopening of the wound.

What is dehiscence?


400

When inspecting the incision after suture removal, nurses must look for signs of this, such as redness, swelling, or purulent drainage.

What is infection?


400

This type of suture removal technique helps decrease the chance of wound dehiscence.

What is removing every second suture?


500

When removing sutures, this critical action reduces the chance of wound dehiscence.

What is removing every second suture?


500

This type of suture technique involves sutures being placed in tissue layers of deep wounds and superficially as the final closure.

What is the continuous suture technique?


500

This type of suture placement avoids bringing the exposed, contaminated surface of the suture into the tissue below the skin.

What is intermittent suture placement?


500

To prevent infection, these must be disposed of in a designated sharps container after suture or staple removal.

What are used scissors and staple extractors?


500

If a patient shows signs of extreme anxiety or has a large wound, this should be administered 30 minutes before the procedure to ensure comfort.

What is an analgesic?