Suturing

1. This may be a totally ridiculous question, but.... I am wondering if RN's are allowed to suture?? Is this even allowed, does it vary from state to state, institution to institution, etc. Thanks in advance!!

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2. 16 Comments

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3. 
   Sep 27, '02

   The only way to find out for sure is to contact your state board of nursing and ask if it falls into your scope of practice. I am sure you would need, at the very least, some formal training.
   
   When I worked as a Medical Assistant the Doc I worked for sent me to a 4 day course on biopsies, sutures and other assorted skin stuff. It made me vow to NOT leave my body to a medical school.
   
   But a MA is a whole different beast, whatever the doc wants you to do, you can. It is his license on the line. I would not do it under my own license now that I know a lot more than I did then.
   
   So, bottom line, check with your state board of nursing.
   
   
   bob
4. 
   Sep 27, '02

   We are not allowed in my state. We are only allowed to remove them.
5. 
   Sep 27, '02

   Same here in MD
6. 
   Sep 27, '02

   Are there any nurses out there that have done a suture?
7. 
   Sep 27, '02

   As an Army Nurse I was allowed to suture in the ER.
8. 
   Sep 28, '02

   In the military we were allowed and expected to suture wounds. Most of the suturing was done by enlisted people because they got the mowt practice and were better at it. I never checked on the Nurse practice acts of any of the states I have worked in. Most of the hospitals required the DR to sew because he/she was the one getting pain to do it. Gary
9. 
   Sep 28, '02

   I have sutured a few times as a lay midwife, but it is not covered under a nurse practice,we can remove them only
10. 
    Sep 28, '02

    Interresting question and I am suprised that RNs aren't generally allowed to suture. I figured human medicine would be a bit more liberal in that area than veterinary. As an RVT, I am allowed to suture cutaneous layer only, no SQ or muscle and no burying the knot.
    
    Darn, that is disappointing since it was a skill I was hoping would transfer.
11. 
    Sep 28, '02

    We aren't, and I am kinda glad...just one more thing for them to pawn off on us and one more thing to worry about getting sued over! I could just see it..."You left a big scar on my arm" Ugh, no thanks! NP's are allowed to suture in lines and CT's in Ohio
12. 
    Sep 28, '02

    RNs can suture in WA (as of 4 years ago)...don't know the details but it involves something along the lines of being instructed by a surgeon licensed in WA and a certain number of return demonstrations. Also there was no special certificate issued, the surgeon writes a letter that outlines the instruction, the number of return demos and his (her) license number.
13. 
    Sep 28, '02

    I know that RNFAs can suture, but not sure about RNs.
14. 
    Sep 28, '02

    Removal of sutures and debridement of decubiti only in PA.

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