stitches

[ROCKONTULL]

Are RN's allowed to do stitches themselves?

[muffinrn99]

as far as I'm aware that is a Dr, NP, or Pa's area.

[suanna]

I'm pretty sure it is hospital dependant. In other states the BON may have specific rules for this but in Ohio I am unaware of any prohibition of permission in the NPA. In one of our local hospitals they employ "Suture Techs" which are hospital trained personel with no other education requirement besides a HS diploma. If a "Suture Tech" can put in stitches I can't imaging nurses cannot but I have never known a hospital that allows it.

[Arduy]

Do they teach suturing at school? It's not an RN's task. You could learn to do it though.

[justme1972]

Very good question.

I am wondering, from the "old timers", did RN's used to perform this function?

[nurseshepherd]

The only times I know if it being done in our area was during natural disasters when senior nurses got a quick tutorial and were suture those lacerations deemed minor by the physicians and one case of an ER RN stitching a minor laceration with the physician at bedside supervising and the RN was almost fired over the incident. Definitely need to check with the state BON on that one. Interesting about the suture techs though, what state was that????

[nurseshepherd]

Saw it....Ohio.

[AandE angel]

Hi, im just in the process of trying to emigrate to the USA, and had no idea that RNs there didnt suture!! Im an a and e (ER) nurse in Britain and all our nurses are taught to sutre on pigs trotters (feet) as its very close to human skin. Ive just started suturing lacs on people and I love it!!

[doglvr]

Just curious.. are RNs allowed to remove stitches? I had a mole removed a few weeks ago and had to get stitches and a younger girl who I assume the RN came in and removed the stitches, I didn't even see the DR. I wasn't sure of her title..Thanks!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

When I worked at a V.A, hospital on an I.V. Team we were taught to do skin suturing to secure our PICC lines and repair IJ and central lines where the skin sutures had been torn. That, however, was permitted by the federal government and we could do it as long as we were on V.A. owned land. We were not covered by the state nursing law.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Just curious.. are RNs allowed to remove stitches? I had a mole removed a few weeks ago and had to get stitches and a younger girl who I assume the RN came in and removed the stitches, I didn't even see the DR. I wasn't sure of her title..Thanks!

Yes, we are.

[Anxious Patient]

I had surgery in a Los Angeles hospital. When I had my staples removed, a nurse was allowed to do it, but I couldn't leave until a doctor came to check for infection or whatever.