HESI RN PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM Q & A
i. 1The nurse is caring for a patient in the burn unit. Which type of wound healing
will the nurse consider when planning care for this patient?
a. Partial-thickness repair
b. Secondary intention
c. Tertiary intention
d. Primary intention
ANS: B
A wound involving loss of tissue such as a burn or a pressure ulcer or laceration heals by
secondary intention. The wound is left open until it becomes filled with scar tissue. It takes
longer for a wound to heal by secondary intention; thus the chance of infection is greater. A
clean surgical incision is an example of a wound with little loss of tissue that heals by primary
intention. The skin edges are approximated or closed, and the risk for infection is low. Partial-
thickness repair is done on partial-thickness wounds that are shallow, involving loss of the
epidermis and maybe partial loss of the dermis. These wounds heal by regeneration because the
epidermis regenerates. Tertiary intention is seen when a wound is left open for several days, and
then the wound edges are approximated. Wound closure is delayed until the risk of infection is
resolved.
ii. A nurse is assessing a patient’s wound. Which nursing observation will
indicate the wound healed by secondary intention?
a. Minimal loss of tissue function
b. Permanent dark redness at site
c. Minimal scar tissue
d. Scarring that may be severe
1
, HESI RN PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM Q & A
ANS: D
A wound healing by secondary intention takes longer than one healing by primary intention.
The wound is left open until it becomes filled with scar tissue. If the scarring is severe,
permanent loss of function often occurs. Wounds that heal by primary intention heal quickly
with minimal scarring. Scar tissue contains few pigmented cells and has a lighter color than
normal skin.
2
i. 1The nurse is caring for a patient in the burn unit. Which type of wound healing
will the nurse consider when planning care for this patient?
a. Partial-thickness repair
b. Secondary intention
c. Tertiary intention
d. Primary intention
ANS: B
A wound involving loss of tissue such as a burn or a pressure ulcer or laceration heals by
secondary intention. The wound is left open until it becomes filled with scar tissue. It takes
longer for a wound to heal by secondary intention; thus the chance of infection is greater. A
clean surgical incision is an example of a wound with little loss of tissue that heals by primary
intention. The skin edges are approximated or closed, and the risk for infection is low. Partial-
thickness repair is done on partial-thickness wounds that are shallow, involving loss of the
epidermis and maybe partial loss of the dermis. These wounds heal by regeneration because the
epidermis regenerates. Tertiary intention is seen when a wound is left open for several days, and
then the wound edges are approximated. Wound closure is delayed until the risk of infection is
resolved.
ii. A nurse is assessing a patient’s wound. Which nursing observation will
indicate the wound healed by secondary intention?
a. Minimal loss of tissue function
b. Permanent dark redness at site
c. Minimal scar tissue
d. Scarring that may be severe
1
, HESI RN PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED EXAM Q & A
ANS: D
A wound healing by secondary intention takes longer than one healing by primary intention.
The wound is left open until it becomes filled with scar tissue. If the scarring is severe,
permanent loss of function often occurs. Wounds that heal by primary intention heal quickly
with minimal scarring. Scar tissue contains few pigmented cells and has a lighter color than
normal skin.
2
