WOUND CARE EXAM 1 (2026) – QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES
Question 1
A nurse assesses a surgical wound on postoperative day 3. Which finding indicates
normal healing during the proliferative phase?
A) Pale, dry wound bed
B) Bright red, granular tissue
C) Thick yellow eschar
D) Foul-smelling purulent drainage
Answer: B – Bright red granular tissue (granulation)
Rationale: Proliferative phase (days 3–21) features granulation tissue – red, moist,
and friable. Pale indicates poor perfusion; eschar is necrosis; purulence indicates
infection.
Question 2
,Which cell type is primarily responsible for collagen deposition during wound
healing?
A) Neutrophils
B) Macrophages
C) Fibroblasts
D) Platelets
Answer: C – Fibroblasts
Rationale: Fibroblasts synthesize collagen and extracellular matrix.
Neutrophils/macrophages are for phagocytosis; platelets for hemostasis.
Question 3
A chronic wound has rolled-under edges (epibole). This indicates:
A) Healthy healing
B) Prolonged inflammatory phase
C) Normal wound contraction
D) Biofilm exclusively
Answer: B – Prolonged inflammatory phase
,Rationale: Epibole (rolled edges) is a sign of stalled healing, often due to
persistent inflammation preventing epithelial migration.
Question 4
Which vitamin is essential for collagen cross-linking?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin C
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin E
Answer: B – Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Rationale: Vitamin C is a cofactor for hydroxylation of proline and lysine,
necessary for stable collagen fibers. Deficiency causes fragile granulation tissue.
Question 5
Which event occurs first during the inflammatory phase?
A) Macrophage infiltration
B) Fibroblast proliferation
C) Vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation
D) Angiogenesis
, Answer: C – Vasoconstriction then vasodilation
Rationale: Immediate vasoconstriction controls bleeding, then histamine causes
vasodilation to allow immune cells into the wound.
Question 6
A patient has a pressure injury on the sacrum with full-thickness skin loss, visible
adipose tissue, but fascia and bone are not exposed. What stage?
A) Stage 2
B) Stage 3
C) Stage 4
D) Unstageable
Answer: B – Stage 3 pressure injury
Rationale: Stage 3 = full-thickness loss down to but not through fascia. Stage 2 is
partial thickness; Stage 4 exposes bone/muscle/tendon.
Question 7
Which tool is most reliable for predicting pressure injury risk?
A) Glasgow Coma Scale