Introduction

• I understand you’ve had an injury and the doctor has asked me to put a few stitches into your arm. Have you ever had this done before? Involves me using a small needle and some thread to close up your wound and help it heal properly. The area will be numbed, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure.
• Can you tell me what happened?
• Are you in any pain currently? Has anyone anaesthetised/numbed the area? Has anyone cleaned the area?
• Have you had your tetanus jab?
• Is there any possibility of glass in the wound? Have you had an x-ray done?
• Any allergies? To latex? Are you on any blood thinning medications?
• How are you with needles?
• Any questions before I begin?

Procedure

• Wash hands with soap and water
• CHECK EXPIRY DATE OF SUTURING KIT
• INSPECT THE WOUND
• CLEAN TOP LAYER OF TROLLEY + GATHER EQUIPMENT + PUT ON APRON → WASH HANDS WITH SOAP + WATER → OPEN SUTURE PACK, GLOVES + SUTURE MATERIAL IN STERILE MANNER → PUT ON STERILE GLOVES → DRAPES WOUND WITH COVER → USE FORCEPS TO CHECK LOCAL ANAESTHETIC HAS TAKEN AFFECT (’would ideally wait 5 minutes for local anaesthetic to take affect’)
  • Sterility → drop suture material into sterile field (not suture packaging)
  • 3.0 Nylon Suture
• DISPOSE OF NEEDLE IN SHARPS BIN

Wrapping Up

• Keep the wound clean and dry
• Make an appointment with the GP in 7-10 days for removal of the stitches