Nursing school is an essential part of becoming a nurse and can provide you with various skills. One potential skill that some may be wondering about is whether or not nurses learn how to suture in nursing school. It involves considering several factors to reach the conclusion. In this blog post, we will discuss if nurses are allowed to do stitching or suturing.
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Do Nurses Do Stitches?
Nurses are highly trained professionals who can provide a variety of medical services. Depending on their level of training and the type of facility they work in, nurses may be called upon to perform various duties, including stitching wounds. In most cases, registered nurses (RNs) are not qualified to stitch the wounds. However, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) have the training, knowledge and skill to perform this procedure.
In some facilities, such as hospitals, doctors may guide and supervise nurses performing laceration repairs or suturing. As long as proper medical protocols are followed and guidelines are followed, nurses may be allowed to administer stitches. However, since laws and regulations vary by state, a nurse may need special certification or additional training to do this procedure.
How to Perform Stitching?
In most cases, nurses will first clean the wound before applying any stitches. This is done to reduce the risk of infection and ensure that the wound heals properly. The nurse may also apply a topical anesthetic to the area to help minimize discomfort. Once the wound is ready, nurses will use special tools and materials such as sutures, forceps, and sterile gauze to close the wound with stitches.
What to Do After Stitching Or Suturing?
After applying the stitches, nurses may provide further instructions on how to care for them at home. These instructions typically include avoiding activities that could cause further injury and keeping the area clean. Qualified Nurses like APRNs may also provide prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications to help prevent infection.
What is the difference Between Stitching Or Suturing?
Stitching refers to the process of closing wounds with stitches, while suturing is the name of the thread used to close the wound. While both terms are often used interchangeably, they describe two different processes. Suturing refers to the act of tying knots in suture thread and then using it to hold the wound together, while stitching involves sewing the edges of a wound together with sutures.
Final Words
In conclusion, nurses may or may not be allowed to stitch wounds, depending on their qualifications and the area where they practice. However, nurses can provide vital care before and after administering stitches, including wound cleaning and post-procedure instructions.
Mrs. Marie Brown has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. She began her nursing career at a Level I Trauma Center in downtown Chicago, Illinois. There she worked in the Emergency Department and on the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. After several years, she moved to the Midwest and continued her nursing career in a critical care setting. For the last 10 years of her nursing career, Mrs. Brown worked as a flight nurse with an air ambulance service. During this time, she cared for patients throughout the United States.