HAC Wound Care & Skin Integrity 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often should a bedridden patient typically be repositioned to help prevent pressure injuries?
- Every 8 hours
- Every 4–6 hours
- Every 2 hours (Correct answer)
- Once per shift
Correct answer: Every 2 hours
Standard practice recommends repositioning immobile patients at least every 2 hours to relieve sustained pressure and restore blood flow to at-risk tissues.
Question 2: Which bony area is at highest risk for pressure injury development in a patient who lies on their back (supine)?
- Knees
- Sacrum and coccyx (Correct answer)
- Shoulders
- Elbows
Correct answer: Sacrum and coccyx
The sacrum and coccyx bear the greatest pressure in the supine position because they are prominent bony areas with limited padding and direct contact with the mattress.
Question 3: What type of dressing is designed to maintain a moist wound environment to promote healing?
- Dry gauze dressing
- Hydrocolloid or moisture-retentive dressing (Correct answer)
- Dry cotton packing
- Adhesive bandage strip
Correct answer: Hydrocolloid or moisture-retentive dressing
Hydrocolloid and other moisture-retentive dressings maintain a moist wound environment, which has been shown to accelerate cell migration and wound healing.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of wound irrigation?
- To apply medication directly into the wound
- To remove debris, bacteria, and exudate from the wound bed (Correct answer)
- To dry out the wound surface
- To test the wound for infection
Correct answer: To remove debris, bacteria, and exudate from the wound bed
Wound irrigation uses a gentle stream of fluid (usually sterile saline) to remove debris, bacteria, and loose tissue from the wound, reducing infection risk.
Question 5: Which skin condition is characterized by redness, warmth, and weeping in skin folds, and is commonly seen in overweight patients or those with incontinence?
- Cellulitis
- Intertrigo (Correct answer)
- Psoriasis
- Shingles
Correct answer: Intertrigo
Intertrigo is a skin inflammation occurring in warm, moist body folds where skin rubs together; it is worsened by moisture, heat, and friction, common in skin folds of overweight or incontinent patients.
Question 6: When changing a wound dressing, which personal protective equipment (PPE) should a healthcare aide use at minimum?
- No PPE is needed for routine dressing changes
- Gloves only (Correct answer)
- Gloves and a mask
- Gloves, mask, gown, and eye protection for all dressings
Correct answer: Gloves only
Gloves are the minimum required PPE for all dressing changes to protect both the patient and the aide; additional PPE is added if splashing or heavy drainage is anticipated.
Question 7: A patient's wound drainage appears green and has a foul odor. What should the healthcare aide do?
- Flush the wound with hydrogen peroxide and reapply the dressing
- Note the color and odor and immediately report the findings to the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Ignore it unless the patient complains of pain
- Apply a larger dressing to contain the drainage
Correct answer: Note the color and odor and immediately report the findings to the supervising nurse
Green, foul-smelling drainage is a sign of possible infection and must be reported to the nurse immediately so appropriate clinical intervention can be ordered.
HAC Wound Care & Skin Integrity 2
How often should a bedridden patient typically be repositioned to help prevent pressure injuries?