Goal: The staples are removed without contaminating the incisional area, without causing trauma to the wound, and without causing the patient to experience pain or discomfort.
1. Review the medical orders for staple removal.
2. Gather the necessary supplies and bring to the bedside stand or overbed table.
3. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.
4. Identify the patient.
5. Close curtains around bed and close door to room if possible. Explain what you are going to do and why you are going to do it to the patient. Describe the sensation of staple removal as a pulling experience.
6. Assess the patient for possible need for nonpharmacologic pain-reducing interventions or analgesic medication before beginning the procedure. Administer appropriate prescribed analgesic. Allow enough time for analgesic to achieve its effectiveness before beginning procedure.
7. Place a waste receptacle at a convenient location for use during the procedure.
8. Adjust bed to comfortable working height, usually elbow height of the caregiver (VISN 8).
9. Assist the patient to a comfortable position that provides easy access to the incision area. Use a bath blanket to cover any exposed area other than the incision. Place a waterproof pad under the incision site.
10. Put on clean gloves. Carefully and gently remove the soiled dressings. If there is resistance, use a silicone-based adhesive remover to help remove the tape. If any part of the dressing sticks to the underlying skin, use small amounts of sterile saline to help loosen and remove. Inspect the incision area.
11. Clean the incision using the wound cleanser and gauze, according to facility policies and procedures.
12. Grasp the staple remover. Position the staple remover under the staple to be removed. Firmly close the staple remover. The staple will bend in the middle and the edges will pull up out of the skin.
13. Remove every other staple to be sure the wound edges are healed. If they are, remove the remaining staples as ordered. Dispose of staples in the sharps container.
14. If wound closure strips are to be applied, apply skin protectant to skin around incision. Do not apply to incision. Apply adhesive closure strips. Take care to handle the strips by the paper backing.
15. Reapply the dressing, depending on the medical orders and facility policy.
16. Remove gloves and discard. Remove all remaining equipment; place the patient in a comfortable position, with side rails up and bed in the lowest position.
17. Remove additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.
18. Assess all wounds every shift. More frequent checks may be needed if the wound is more complex.
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