title: The registered nurse first assistant role in surgical wound closure: an integrated review.
abstract: Knowledge of suturing techniques, suturing materials, and the stages of wound healing is essential for obtaining good operative results and avoiding wound infections and scarring. An extensive literature search was undertaken, and a resultant integrated review of the studies was assembled. The literature deals specifically with information on methods of wound closure, wound healing, suturing techniques, and suturing materials in the coronary, surgical, and vascular surgery population. It is hoped that the information provided will give the practicing registered nurse first assistant and other surgical nurses a working knowledge of some of the best methods for the closure of skin wounds, and how best to apply those methods in practice.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: East
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009872:Operating Room Technicians; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*