So what do you do if you cut your finger?

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I am a student and have clinicals tomorrow. I cut my finger today in the kitchen and now have two stitches and a big gauze bandage on it. :-( What do you all do in this situation as RN's?

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

You might have to make some modifications to your clinical time. Maybe you can do something educational on the floor that doesn't require patient contact this week. Hopefully you have an understanding instructor.

As for what an RN would do: unforeseen stuff like this happens sometimes. If it was still bleeding by the morning, I'd probably call out. If the bleeding had stopped and I could cover the sutures with a smaller, discrete dressing that could fit under a glove, I'd go to work.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Cry...

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Double glove.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

Cry...

I did! I'm the biggest wimp ever! He had to inject me three times with the numbing stuff and I could still feel it, but I held my hubby's hand tight.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Speaking from experience: let your CI know, keep it well-bandaged at all times and double-glove.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

You might have to make some modifications to your clinical time. Maybe you can do something educational on the floor that doesn't require patient contact this week. Hopefully you have an understanding instructor.

As for what an RN would do: unforeseen stuff like this happens sometimes. If it was still bleeding by the morning, I'd probably call out. If the bleeding had stopped and I could cover the sutures with a smaller, discrete dressing that could fit under a glove, I'd go to work.

Thanks! It has completely stopped bleeding. I like your idea of making the bandage smaller in the morning because right now there's nothing discrete about it.

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

Thanks! It has completely stopped bleeding. I like your idea of making the bandage smaller in the morning because right now there's nothing discrete about it.

Maybe when you get to clinical, your clinical instructor can help you find a piece of gauze and a tegaderm to cover it with. Hopefully it's not causing you too much pain!

[Perpetual Student]

I just put a band-aid over my wounds and am double sure to wear gloves when having contact with anything potentially infectious. I'm not sure how big your wound is or how discreetly you can bandage it.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Hmmm...this is a toughie. I would go see your instructor first thing. They may have you sit out tomorrow, but may also see what they can do to cover your wound so that you can work adequately during clinical. Do you have steristrips on it?

[humglum, BSN, RN]

Is it still bleeding? I'd put a square of gauze over the stitches and cover it with an occlusive dressing. Accidents happen -- just make sure it is well-covered and you wear gloves when necessary.

[rainbowbrite85]

Ha, I just did this last week! I was opening up a can of commercial pears and my hand slipped, slicing my right thumb and nail completely open! Headed to the ED and lemme tell you.....that lidocaine shot is nothing to mess around with! Most extreme pain in my life! I didn't need stitches or anything though. I just covered it up with a bandaid and then wore a "finger condom" over it, lol. Then, when I went back to work in the kitchen, I was able to put a normal glove right over it to keep going. I think the official name for the "finger condoms" are called Finger Cots and I bought them at Wal-Mart. Good Luck!!!