A nurse is creating a plan care for a client who requires suture removal. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

A. Pull the visible part of the suture through the underlying tissue: Pulling the external portion of the suture through the tissue can introduce surface bacteria into the wound. This increases the risk of infection and should be avoided. B. Cleanse the wound with sterile water prior to removing the sutures: Wounds are typically cleansed with sterile normal saline or an antiseptic solution, not sterile water. Normal saline is isotonic and safe for wound irrigation, whereas sterile water can damage tissue. C. Cut the sutures as close to the skin as possible: Cutting close to the skin ensures only the buried portion of the suture is pulled through the tissue, reducing contamination and promoting proper healing. D. Remove the sutures in a consecutive order: Sutures are usually removed every other one first to prevent wound dehiscence. Removing them consecutively can place stress on the wound edges and increase the risk of reopening.