So what do you do if you cut your finger?

[anon456]

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?

[Sarah010101]

Little bit of gauze and a tegaderm. And my instructor made sure i double gloved :) (This is when I cut my hand open on my wakeboard) :)

[Missy77]

Sorry to hear that. Talk to your instructor ASAP. There shouldn't be a problem. This happened to a friend of mine. The CI just let her observe that day and help others out with charting.

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

I broke my finger a couple of hours before clinical. I just let my instructor know. I just had to have some help from my classmates with the heavy lifting in exchange for me helping them study for exams. Trade and exchange

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Our facility has a policy that you cannot work with sutures...regardless of where they are on the body.

Usually students have to adhere by the same policy...that is for your protection as well as the patient's.

You'll have to call your clinical instructor and ask for clarification.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I do have sutures, but it's not bleeding. I was able to cover it this evening with a large band-aid. I'll let you know what happens.

[RNKPCE]

I second the finger cot thing. Our supply departments carries them. They look like small condoms and are worn over the finger. I would still use a bandaid under the finger cot though. This is for a regular cut. For sutures not sure I'd want to keep the wound as moist as it would get wearing a finger cot all shift.

[Sparrow23]

I tend to cut my fingers a lot in the kitchen (never needed stitches though). What I do is put some antibacterial ointment on it, bandage it, cut off a finger section of a well-fitted glove and place that over my wounded finger, secure it with a piece of tegaderm and lastly wrap another piece of tape (the clear plastic-y tape, not the cloth tape) over the edge of the tegaderm to keep it from getting loose from hand-washing. I still have to change the whole thing maybe twice a shift, but I am paranoid about touching any surface with a cut finger at work. And this way it's a little more discreet than walking around with one full glove on my hand the whole shift

[casi, ASN, RN]

I either tegaderm the cut or use these Buy Nexcare Waterproof Clear Bandage, Assorted Sizes Online at drugstore.com

[Tina, RN]

I'm sure that you'll be OK for school clinicals. Explain to your instructor, and maybe you can just observe today, and do charting or something.

I'd cover it with the smallest gauze possible, then use a tegaderm over it. Maybe use some tape around the edges of the tegaderm, too. I'm sure it would need to be changed a few times, but at least it would remain relatively clean.

[MrsEd]

I recently had five stitches in my finger. When I went to work, I put a tegaderm bandage over my stitches and wore gloves for all my patient contact. I would make sure you let your CI know.

[sleepysnr]

I would explain to your teacher and wear a bandage. put a gloves on when dealing with patients and you should be fine :)

[Turtle in scrubs]

Finger condoms! I buy them at my local pharmacy by the box. Not sure about working with sutures or what to tell you about the pain/mobility b/c that can be tricky. But for infection control I slather it with antibiotic ointment, cover it with a bandaid or gauze, then the finger condom. I have to take a piece of tape around the bottom of the condom (near my knuckle) to keep it on and keep the water out. I use hand gel most of the day so that I can keep my hands clean, but still end up changing the condom multiple times in a shift and doing a complete wash down and re-apply ointment.

Good Luck!