Splinters - To remove or not to remove

Published

  1. To remove or not to remove a splinter

    • 12
      Yes
    • 4
      No
    • 4
      Other

20 members have participated

Do you remove splinters? Having a conflict with my co-nurse partner over this. She will place band-aid over the splinter and tell them to have Mom take it out at home. I would be more likely to remove if could be done easily or if the child is Middle School or older would allow them to use the tweezer and try themselves to take out after a good washing.

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I will not dig for a splinter, but if I can push it out, I will. Then again, I have junior high, frequently I will do like you, give them tweezers and tell them to go for it.

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The district i work in does not have clear cut policies on anything.... which lead me to exploring tons of school health manuals from all over via the internet and most of them say Do NOT DIG if you can grab the tip then you attempt but don't pierce skin to remove it

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Same as above. If there is enough sticking out that I can grab it with tweezers then I will. If not, I assure them that their body will eventually reject it.

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If it can be removed easily, I will take it out. I will not dig around for it. I use "splinter out" from school nurse supply inc. (they're basically the old school type lancets) and they make removing most splinters a piece of cake. If I can't get it, I apply Abx and a bandaid.

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

Pretty much same. If its sticking out, I will try to get it with my tweezers. I will be more aggressive with my tweezers on the older ones. I have also handed kids, who insist they will not live another minute with this sliver in their hand, my tweezers and said "have at it". All others, I cover with a bandaid and let them know their body will take care of it.

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If I can grab it with the tweezers I will remove the splinter - but if it looks like I will have to dig for it - nope, I will clean it & put a bandaid over the site and let parents know.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I voted No, but that's mostly because I will not take it out myself, but have no problem offering the disposable plastic tweezers for them to remove it. I did once try to get out a staple in a kids arm, but it was basically hanging out already and even then, he screamed bloody murder for attention. :bluecry1:

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If it can be removed easily, I will take it out. I will not dig around for it. I use "splinter out" from school nurse supply inc. (they're basically the old school type lancets) and they make removing most splinters a piece of cake. If I can't get it, I apply Abx and a bandaid.

I've seen these, but thought they were for "digging" the splinter out...how do they work if you're not digging?

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Love the product splinter out!

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Do people stop getting splinters as adults? I bet I haven't had one in at least 15 years.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i am the same - i'll remove as long as i can without having to dig for it. I also use the splinter outs. If i can't get to it easily, then the child gets a bandage and the parent gets to try at home.

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