How? Just, HOW?!

[ihavealltheice]

I had a first today!

The first time a student accidentally stapled their fingers together...like FULL ON staple completely embedded into the pads of their fingers stapled their fingers together. How in the world does someone do that?!

The student wouldn't let me touch it, nor did I even want to attempt it, but mom wanted me to remove it. You wouldn't remove it, would you?

[SaltineQueen]

Nope, no way, no how. Mom can come try herself.

[ihavealltheice]

Just now, SaltineQueen said:

Nope, no way, no how. Mom can come try herself.

And she DID, she brought the student home and called to tell me that she got it out and what I should do WHEN it happens again!!!! Listen lady, I'm not planning on a WHEN!!!

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have taken staples out before, but they were easy (like on one finger and not all the way thru). Not sure I would touch this one, depends on what it looked like, and if I could get the parent or not. Good that you were able to get the parent!!!

[mainecoonRN92, BSN, RN]

Yeah, no way would I be attempting that.

[Eleven011]

I have had three separate "stapled my finger" incidents! (middle school teachers are starting to hide their staplers!) Never stapled together though. One, the student had already removed themselves and I just cleaned and bandaged. The second was in but barely, so I did pull that out and bandage. The third was full on buried in the pad of the finger. Kid was also squeamish about me messing with it, so I ended up calling mom, she came to the school( shaking her head in disbelief at her kid the whole time) and yanked it out herself. I loved every minute of that one! LOL

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

Kid wouldn't let you touch it, what are you supposed to do, hold him down and force it out? Nope. Momma can handle that one. And I'm would've had to stop her mid-sentence if she started telling me what to do when it happens again.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

4 minutes ago, OyWithThePoodles said:

Kid wouldn't let you touch it, what are you supposed to do, hold him down and force it out? Nope. Momma can handle that one. And I'm would've had to stop her mid-sentence if she started telling me what to do when it happens again.

We're teetering on surgical removal at this point. Would you remove stitches? If not - don't pull out even run-of-the-mill classroom staples without some kind of provider assessing first. I know there will be seasoned nurses who disagree with this, but please consider: Even if the risk of permanent damage is low....just because I CAN doesn't mean I SHOULD or I WILL.

[guest464345]

What is with these kids and the staplers?? NO WAY am I pulling out fully embedded staples, let alone when they've stapled fingers together. That's a parent job, or an afternoon treat for the urgent care PA.

I've done it when they are only a few mm into one finger, and when the kid is willing & able to sit still.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

agreed, i'll pluck it if it's not too deep and the child is cooperative. Just like i'll take out a splinter if it's not too deeply embedded. I won't dig to get it.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I might pull it out, depending on assessment. If it is two deep for my tweezers or splinter out tool, no go. And only if kid is willing. Not willing, nope.

But why I also say this is only because so many of my students would not have an adult who could pick them up and/or take them to be seen for prompt removal. Kid would be sitting in my office all day.

[UrbanHealthRN, BSN, RN]

21 hours ago, ihavealltheice said:

And she DID, she brought the student home and called to tell me that she got it out and what I should do WHEN it happens again!!!! Listen lady, I'm not planning on a WHEN!!!

"when it happens again"...you should add this to the kid's medical history. Maybe make a 504 plan and have mom sign off on it. Let her see on paper how ridiculous that sounds!