Staple Removal

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Specializes in Long-term Care.

I have to remove a residents staples tomorrow. I've never done it before. I know that we have the staple removal kits. Anybody have any tips. Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

The kits that I have used have are like a pair of scissors with a staple remover at the end instead of 2 blades. Hope that makes sense.

One of the ends will have two prongs with a space in the middle, so that the other side (which only has 1 prong) can fit in the middle of the two prongs.

Make sure that you use the side with 2 prongs to slide UNDERNEATH the staple. When you squeeze the handle, the single prong will come down in between the two prongs and bend the staple so that the ends that are inside the skin, will lift out of the skin.

Some of the staples may bend weirdly as your remove them. This will hurt. Stay calm and carefully dislodge one end of the staple by rocking it side to side. Make sure you completely clamp down the staple remover, so as to get the maximum amount of bend in the staple. If you make sure to use the single prong on top, when the staple bends, it will most likely bend in such a way as to completely get both ends of the staple out of the skin.

Some of the staples may be buried in scabs, it is going to hurt to dig around and free the staple from the coagulated blood. Just be gentle.

Now then, you will probably be using steri-strips to keep tension off of the wound after removal of the staples, so this is the technique.

1. Prepare the patient, by telling them that this may hurt, but ask them to try not to move, so that it doesn't hurt more.

2. Thoroughly inspect the wound and make sure that it is well approximated and well sealed. (scabs and a very very TINY amount of drainage are ok, as long as the wound will not dehisce when you remove the staples.)

3. Remove every other staple and immediately after removal of a staple, place a steri-strip where the staple used to be.

4. After you go down the entire wound, removing every other staple and placing steri strips, make sure the wound will remain closed if you remove the last of the staples.

5. Repeat the process of removing the staples and placing the steri-strips.

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that was very precise 8flood8, you must have experienced in the service.

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Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

I've done it a few times :)!

An awesome OB nurse showed me the first time, that's where I learned the "remove half and apply steri strips" part :). I was so freaked out to be doing it on that c- section incision! I had visions of her dehiscing before my eyes!

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I would suggest going in with an experienced nurse first and watch her do the first few just so you get the idea...

Make sure you completely close the staple remover BEFORE you start lifting the staple out of the skin. From my experience removing staples is very easy and generally quite painless. I usually tell my patients not to worry, they hurt a lot more going in then coming out. A little wack of analgesic 20min beforehand never hurts either.

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anyone want to say what happens if you use the staple remover backwards? and it pushes the staple into the skin? Then explain to the MD. why you can't get the staple out? LOL.

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In our facility nurses are not allowed to remove staples!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi/Tele.

I know from my personal experience it hurts! I had 20 staples in my back and it felt awful. :crying2:

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I like to keep count of the number of staples removed. I usually don't have documentation on the number placed, but I count them anyway.

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