So what do you do if you cut your finger?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

What do the ummm finger condoms look like?

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What do the ummm finger condoms look like?

LOL! Use your imagination!!

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I hate it when that happens, because we have to wash our hands so much or use the alcohol foam, ouch!!

But, to answer your question. If the cut is still oozing and you need the gauze bandage . . . talk to your instructor and try to reschedule clinical . . . it's no different than if you were sick.

If not oozing, Opsite bandages will create a paper thin but water tight covering that you can wash. When it starts to come off, remove and re-apply. Have someone help you because it's kind of hard to apply one handed!!

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oh jeez!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
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!

Tegaderm is brillant. When I had to go to clinical with my cut, my CI was able to hook me up with some.

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Well, I made it through the day. :-) I saw those finger condoms but was unsure if they would work over a thumb or be too tight or something. Funny name though!

I put a large band-aid on, and the nurse covered that with tegaderm and a bit of tape to keep it all together. Then I wore a glove on that hand all day, and double gloved when needed. I changed the glove many times to prevent sweating, washed the hand in the sink carefully, and changed the bandage out at lunch time. Whew! It should be fully healed before I go back again. Thanks again for the suggestions!

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Anon456,

a tip for the future. if you slice your finger again, but not deep enough to require a suture, SteriStrips, the 1/4" variety, work really well to hold the skin together to allow it to heal.

Or, if just a superficial cut, like a paper cut, SuperGlue will keep the cut closed.

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