NURS 5354 Final Exam Question With Correct Verified Answers
2025/2026
What is a single suture strand called? - Monofilament; more resistant to harboring
microorganisms.
What are several filaments twisted or braided together called? - Multifilament; They are less
stiff, have greater tensile strength but fluid may be absorbed along the filament to introduce
pathogens. Infection risk!
What are absorbable sutures? - Two types: Natural-surgical gut; plain or surgical gut chromic
(treated with chromium salt)
Synthetic polymers-Vicryl (braided suture) or monocryl (monofilament)
What are non-absorbable sutures? - Two types: Natural-Surgical silk
Synthetic-Nylon (Ethilon) or Polyprolene (Prolene)
How do you determine the diameter of a suture? - The smaller the number, the larger the
strand.
Ex: a 2-0 is larger than 5-0 suture.
What size suture would you use for the face? - 5-0 or 6-0
What size suture would you use for the scalp? - 4-0
What size suture would you use for the upper body? - 4-0
What size suture would you use for the hand? - 4-0 or 5-0
,What size suture would you use for the lower body? - 4-0
What size suture would you use over a joint? - 4-0
What suture pattern would be used for a laceration with irregular edges? - Interrupted
What suture pattern is best for high tension wounds, palms/feet or over joint areas? -
Horizontal mattress
What suture pattern is best for loose/thin skin? - Vertical mattress
What suture pattern would be used on lacerations with low risk for infection and low wound
tension? - Continuous
How far apart should two sutures be from one another? - No closer than 2 mm in a fine plastic
closure. The distance between sutures should equal half the total distance across the incision.
When should sutures be removed from the face? - 4-5 days
When should sutures be removed from the scalp? - 10-14 days
When should sutures be removed from the upper body? - 7-10 days
When should sutures be removed from the hand? - 7-10 days
When should sutures be removed from the lower body? - 10-14 days
, When should sutures be removed over joints? - 14-21 days
Consult/referral should be done for...? - Deep wounds of the hand or foot, lacerations of the
eyelid/lip/ear, lacerations involving tendon, nerves, arteries, bones or joints, penetrating
wounds of unknown depth, severe crush injuries, severely contaminated wounds requiring
drainage, wounds for which the patient or clinical is strongly concerned about cosmetic
outcome. and galea
What are other methods of wound repair/closure? - Tape, adhesives or staples
What needs to be documented/coded when suturing? - Lesion location, lesion size,
benign/malignant (discuss path report), and closure.
What needs to be documented for wound repair? - laceration length and location, any
neurovascular damage distal to the injury, laceration clean or contaminated, anesthetic
medication used, how the wound was cleansed, suture size, number and layer sutured (skin,
dermis, fascia) and discussion of potential for infection or impaired function.
What should be considered for post procedural care? - Cleansing, antibiotics (if needed), use of
steri-strips after suture removal to decrease wound tension and applying sunscreen to the area
for at least 6 months to reduce scarring.
What history should be obtained with laceration injuries? - When did it occur (greater than 12-
24 hours)?
Where did it occur (dirty vs. clean)?
Any foreign body?
What was the mechanism of injury (sharp, blunt, animal bite, human bite, puncture?)
What are present symptoms and care prior to arrival?
2025/2026
What is a single suture strand called? - Monofilament; more resistant to harboring
microorganisms.
What are several filaments twisted or braided together called? - Multifilament; They are less
stiff, have greater tensile strength but fluid may be absorbed along the filament to introduce
pathogens. Infection risk!
What are absorbable sutures? - Two types: Natural-surgical gut; plain or surgical gut chromic
(treated with chromium salt)
Synthetic polymers-Vicryl (braided suture) or monocryl (monofilament)
What are non-absorbable sutures? - Two types: Natural-Surgical silk
Synthetic-Nylon (Ethilon) or Polyprolene (Prolene)
How do you determine the diameter of a suture? - The smaller the number, the larger the
strand.
Ex: a 2-0 is larger than 5-0 suture.
What size suture would you use for the face? - 5-0 or 6-0
What size suture would you use for the scalp? - 4-0
What size suture would you use for the upper body? - 4-0
What size suture would you use for the hand? - 4-0 or 5-0
,What size suture would you use for the lower body? - 4-0
What size suture would you use over a joint? - 4-0
What suture pattern would be used for a laceration with irregular edges? - Interrupted
What suture pattern is best for high tension wounds, palms/feet or over joint areas? -
Horizontal mattress
What suture pattern is best for loose/thin skin? - Vertical mattress
What suture pattern would be used on lacerations with low risk for infection and low wound
tension? - Continuous
How far apart should two sutures be from one another? - No closer than 2 mm in a fine plastic
closure. The distance between sutures should equal half the total distance across the incision.
When should sutures be removed from the face? - 4-5 days
When should sutures be removed from the scalp? - 10-14 days
When should sutures be removed from the upper body? - 7-10 days
When should sutures be removed from the hand? - 7-10 days
When should sutures be removed from the lower body? - 10-14 days
, When should sutures be removed over joints? - 14-21 days
Consult/referral should be done for...? - Deep wounds of the hand or foot, lacerations of the
eyelid/lip/ear, lacerations involving tendon, nerves, arteries, bones or joints, penetrating
wounds of unknown depth, severe crush injuries, severely contaminated wounds requiring
drainage, wounds for which the patient or clinical is strongly concerned about cosmetic
outcome. and galea
What are other methods of wound repair/closure? - Tape, adhesives or staples
What needs to be documented/coded when suturing? - Lesion location, lesion size,
benign/malignant (discuss path report), and closure.
What needs to be documented for wound repair? - laceration length and location, any
neurovascular damage distal to the injury, laceration clean or contaminated, anesthetic
medication used, how the wound was cleansed, suture size, number and layer sutured (skin,
dermis, fascia) and discussion of potential for infection or impaired function.
What should be considered for post procedural care? - Cleansing, antibiotics (if needed), use of
steri-strips after suture removal to decrease wound tension and applying sunscreen to the area
for at least 6 months to reduce scarring.
What history should be obtained with laceration injuries? - When did it occur (greater than 12-
24 hours)?
Where did it occur (dirty vs. clean)?
Any foreign body?
What was the mechanism of injury (sharp, blunt, animal bite, human bite, puncture?)
What are present symptoms and care prior to arrival?
