What it means
The knife used to make incisions, made of a handle and a removable blade. Blades are numbered by shape; for example, a #10 blade has a curved edge for large skin cuts, a #11 has a pointed tip for stab cuts, and a #15 is small for fine work. Disposable scalpels with built-in safety covers are also used.
For the nurse
Load and remove blades with an instrument or blade remover, never with fingers. Pass a scalpel in a neutral zone or tray rather than hand to hand, and put used blades in a sharps container.
At a glance
| Also written | scalpels |
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Related terms
needlestick
An injury in which a needle that may have been used on someone pierces the skin.
sterile field
An area set up with sterile drapes and supplies, kept free of all germs, for a sterile procedure.