Nursing Shears & Bandage Scissors - Built for the Floor

Customers are saying

4.49 ★ (164)
Verified

Floor nursing puts different demands on your scissors than any other clinical setting. You're cutting bandages and tape in tight spaces, trimming dressings with one hand while the other holds a patient, and doing all of it shift after shift without time to stop and fuss with a blade that doesn't cooperate.

Our nursing shears and bandage scissors are built around that reality. Lightweight enough that you stop noticing them in your pocket, sharp enough to cut cleanly through tape, gauze, and wound dressings on the first pass, and precise enough for the close work that wound care actually demands.

Non-stick coatings on the blades prevent adhesive buildup so you're not prying bandage tape off mid-cut. Comfortable handles keep things controlled even during long dressing-change rounds. And the price means you can keep a spare pair in every scrubs pocket without a second thought.

Browse the full collection below — bandage scissors, Lister scissors, utility shears, and specialty nursing scissors, all clinical-grade and fairly priced.

What Makes a Good Nursing Scissors

Nurses cut constantly — tape, dressings, sutures, packaging, bandages. The scissors that earn a permanent spot in the pocket are the ones that never make the job harder than it needs to be.

  • Sharp from the start, sharp after months — stainless-steel blades that hold their edge through repeated use and regular cleaning.
  • Non-stick coating — prevents adhesive and residue buildup from tape and bandage materials so cuts stay clean shift after shift.
  • Lightweight design — comfortable in the pocket and in the hand for long shifts; heavy scissors cause fatigue.
  • Blunt or safety tip — essential for working close to skin; sharp-tipped scissors have no place in wound care.
  • Easy to clean — smooth surfaces and accessible pivot points that respond to disinfectant wipes without trapping debris.

Types of Nursing Scissors in This Collection

TypeBest useKey feature
Bandage scissors (Lister)Removing bandages, dressings, and tapeAngled blade and blunt lower tip for safe skin-side cutting
Utility nurse shearsGeneral floor cutting throughout a shiftMultipurpose design, comfortable for all-day carry
Suture scissorsSuture removal and fine wound workSmall, precise tip for controlled close-in cuts
Non-stick coated scissorsTape-heavy dressing changesPTFE coating resists adhesive buildup
Disposable / single-useInfection-control settingsEliminates sterilization requirement; per-patient use

Who Uses Nursing Shears

RNs & LPNs Wound care nurses ER nurses ICU staff Home health nurses CNAs Nursing students
  • Floor and med-surg nurses — use bandage scissors and utility shears dozens of times per shift for dressing changes, tape removal, and general cutting.
  • Wound care specialists — need precise, fine-tip scissors for debridement dressings and suture removal alongside standard bandage shears.
  • ER nurses — often double as trauma shear users; need scissors that handle both clinical precision and emergency clothing removal.
  • Home health and long-term care nurses — carry everything in a single bag; lightweight, multipurpose shears matter most.
  • Nursing students — building their first clinical kit; professional-grade tools at a fair price for school and first placements.
See our top picks for the best nursing shears →

FAQ

What scissors do nurses use?
The most common scissors nurses carry are bandage scissors (Lister scissors) for removing dressings and tape, and general utility shears for everyday cutting. Wound care nurses also carry small suture scissors for precise removal work. Most nurses keep at least one pair in their scrubs pocket at all times.
What are Lister bandage scissors?
Lister bandage scissors have an angled lower blade and a blunt, spatula-like lower tip that slides safely between bandage and skin without risk of cutting the patient. The angled design gives your hand clearance above the patient's body during use. They are the most common type of nursing scissors in clinical practice.
Why do nursing scissors have a non-stick coating?
Bandage tape and medical adhesives leave sticky residue on scissor blades with every cut. A non-stick (PTFE) coating prevents that buildup, keeping the blades clean and cutting smoothly. For nurses doing multiple dressing changes per shift, it makes a real practical difference.
Can nursing scissors be sterilized?
Most stainless-steel nursing scissors can be cleaned with medical-grade disinfectant wipes or solutions. Autoclaving is possible for uncoated stainless-steel instruments — check manufacturer guidance, as non-stick coatings and certain handle materials may not be autoclave-safe.
How often should nurses replace their scissors?
Replace when cuts become ragged or require more than one pass on standard materials, when the pivot loosens enough to affect accuracy, or when blades develop visible nicks or corrosion. With regular disinfecting, quality stainless-steel nursing scissors should last one to several years under daily clinical use.