Staple Removal

Critical Elements

• Understanding of the importance of asepsis in the prevention of spreading health care associated infection (HCAI).
• Handwashing.
• Creates appropriate physical environment.
• Troubleshoots complications.

Procedure

Prior to Treatment: (Critical Thinking)

• Assess patients need for treatment.
• Confirm order.
• Administer pain medication if needed.
• Gather appropriate equipment: clean gloves, sterile gloves, sterile suture/staple removal set, antiseptic swabs, appropriate sterile dressings or Steri-Strips, benzoin tincture or other skin protectant per policy.

Patient Interaction: (Safety)

• Patient identifiers.
• Provide for privacy.
• Wash hands.
• Explain procedure.
• Education patient about reporting discomfort.

Steps of the Procedure: (Infection Control, Safety)

1. Position patient into a comfortable position.
2. Place trash near working field.
3. Set up sterile field on overbed table.
1. Open suture or staple set.
2. Open sterile dressings.
4. Remove dressing and soiled gloves, discard appropriately.
5. Assess status of wound and drainage on dressing.
6. Wash hands and apply sterile gloves.
7. Cleanse area with antiseptic swab, starting from incision outward, one stroke per swab.
8. Place staple remover under staple while slowly closing the ends together.  Squeeze the center of the staple with the tips, freeing the staple from the skin.
9. Release handles and discard staple.
10. Repeat the process for every other staple and apply steri-strips in those locations.
11. Count the number of staples removed.
12. Re-dress the site per orders.
13. Remove gloves and discard.

After Procedure (Patient Centered Care, Infection Control)

• Straighten room making patient comfortable, replace call light.
• Wash hands before leaving room.

Documentation (Informatics, Communication)

• Patient’s response to procedure including drainage amount and color, number of staples removed and post-procedure care. 

Resources

• Medicine Health