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Wound Certification Exam 2026 –
Comprehensive Q&A For Certification
Success
why does sitting in a chair pose more of a risk in skin break down than lying? -
correct-answer -deep tissue injury or PU is likely to occur sooner sitting down
because tissue offloading over boney prominences is higher
Describe what you will see in deep tissue injury? - correct-answer -purple or
maroon localized area of discolored intact skin blood filled blister; may be
preceded by painful, firm, mushy, or boggy; skin may be warmer to cooler in
adjacent tissue. In dark skin, thin blister or eschar over a dark wound bed may bee
seen
Describe stage I pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -Intact skin with nonblanchable
redness of localized area. Will not see blanching in dark skin, but changes in skin
tissue consistency (firm vs boggy when palpated), sensation (pain), and warmer or
cooler temperature may differ from surrounding area
,2
Describe stage II pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -partial-thickness wound where
epidermis and tip of dermis is lost with red-pink wound bed w/out slough. may
also present as intact or open/ruptured serum -filled blister
Describe stage III pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -full-thickness wound where
both epidermis and dermis is lost and subcutaneous tissue may be visible, but
deeper structures such as muscle, bone, and tendon are not exposed; slough my
be present but it doesn't obscure depth and tunneling and undermining may be
present
Describe stage IV pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -full-thickness wound with
exposed bone,tendon, and muscle; slough or eschar may be seen in some parts of
the wound bed. you will often see tunneling and undermining. Osteomyelitis may
be dxed at this stage, since bone is palpable
Describe unstageble ulcers? - correct-answer -full-thickness wound where base of
the ulcer is covered by slough and/or eschar, obscuring depth
When should eschars not be removed? - correct-answer -when it's stable with dry,
adherent, and intact w/out erythema on the heel; this serves as the body's natural
cover and should not be removed.
,3
Therapeutic function of pressure distribution is accomplised by what 2 factors? -
correct-answer -immersion and envelopement
Define immersion? - correct-answer -depth of penetration or skining into surgace
allowing pressure to be spread out over surrounding area rather than directly over
boney prominence
Define envelopement? - correct-answer -is the ability of support surface to
conform to irregularities without causing substantial increase in pressure
what is bottoming out? - correct-answer -this occurs when depth of penetration
or sinking is excessive, allowing increased pressure to concentrate over boney
prominences
what factors contribute to bottoming out? - correct-answer -weight, disproportion
of weight and size such as amputation, tendency to keep HOB >30 degrees,
inappropriate support surface settings
When should you consider reactive support surface with features and
components such as low air loss, alternating pressure, viscous or air fluids? -
correct-answer -for patients who cannot effectively position off their wound, have
, 4
PUs in multiple turning surfaces, or have PUs that fail to improve despite optimal
comprehensive management
When should active support surface be considered? - correct-answer -when
effective positioning is determined by an MD to be medically contraindicated
What is the difference between an active and reactive support surfaces/ - correct-
answer -active support surface is a powered mattress or overlay that changes it's
load- distribution with or without applied load; pressure is redistributed across
the body by inflating and deflating the cells of alternating zones. conversely a
reactive support surface moves or changes load-distribution properties only in
response to applied load, such as the patient's body.
When are active support surfaces appropriate? - correct-answer -when manual
frequent repositioning is not possible
when are reactive support surfaces appropriate? - correct-answer -for pressure
ulcer prevention
Wound Certification Exam 2026 –
Comprehensive Q&A For Certification
Success
why does sitting in a chair pose more of a risk in skin break down than lying? -
correct-answer -deep tissue injury or PU is likely to occur sooner sitting down
because tissue offloading over boney prominences is higher
Describe what you will see in deep tissue injury? - correct-answer -purple or
maroon localized area of discolored intact skin blood filled blister; may be
preceded by painful, firm, mushy, or boggy; skin may be warmer to cooler in
adjacent tissue. In dark skin, thin blister or eschar over a dark wound bed may bee
seen
Describe stage I pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -Intact skin with nonblanchable
redness of localized area. Will not see blanching in dark skin, but changes in skin
tissue consistency (firm vs boggy when palpated), sensation (pain), and warmer or
cooler temperature may differ from surrounding area
,2
Describe stage II pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -partial-thickness wound where
epidermis and tip of dermis is lost with red-pink wound bed w/out slough. may
also present as intact or open/ruptured serum -filled blister
Describe stage III pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -full-thickness wound where
both epidermis and dermis is lost and subcutaneous tissue may be visible, but
deeper structures such as muscle, bone, and tendon are not exposed; slough my
be present but it doesn't obscure depth and tunneling and undermining may be
present
Describe stage IV pressure ulcer? - correct-answer -full-thickness wound with
exposed bone,tendon, and muscle; slough or eschar may be seen in some parts of
the wound bed. you will often see tunneling and undermining. Osteomyelitis may
be dxed at this stage, since bone is palpable
Describe unstageble ulcers? - correct-answer -full-thickness wound where base of
the ulcer is covered by slough and/or eschar, obscuring depth
When should eschars not be removed? - correct-answer -when it's stable with dry,
adherent, and intact w/out erythema on the heel; this serves as the body's natural
cover and should not be removed.
,3
Therapeutic function of pressure distribution is accomplised by what 2 factors? -
correct-answer -immersion and envelopement
Define immersion? - correct-answer -depth of penetration or skining into surgace
allowing pressure to be spread out over surrounding area rather than directly over
boney prominence
Define envelopement? - correct-answer -is the ability of support surface to
conform to irregularities without causing substantial increase in pressure
what is bottoming out? - correct-answer -this occurs when depth of penetration
or sinking is excessive, allowing increased pressure to concentrate over boney
prominences
what factors contribute to bottoming out? - correct-answer -weight, disproportion
of weight and size such as amputation, tendency to keep HOB >30 degrees,
inappropriate support surface settings
When should you consider reactive support surface with features and
components such as low air loss, alternating pressure, viscous or air fluids? -
correct-answer -for patients who cannot effectively position off their wound, have
, 4
PUs in multiple turning surfaces, or have PUs that fail to improve despite optimal
comprehensive management
When should active support surface be considered? - correct-answer -when
effective positioning is determined by an MD to be medically contraindicated
What is the difference between an active and reactive support surfaces/ - correct-
answer -active support surface is a powered mattress or overlay that changes it's
load- distribution with or without applied load; pressure is redistributed across
the body by inflating and deflating the cells of alternating zones. conversely a
reactive support surface moves or changes load-distribution properties only in
response to applied load, such as the patient's body.
When are active support surfaces appropriate? - correct-answer -when manual
frequent repositioning is not possible
when are reactive support surfaces appropriate? - correct-answer -for pressure
ulcer prevention
