Wound Care Certification Exam Wound Care Certification Knowledge 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which phase of wound healing is characterized by contraction of the wound and collagen remodeling, and can last up to 2 years?
- Hemostasis
- Inflammatory phase
- Proliferative phase
- Maturation (remodeling) phase (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Maturation (remodeling) phase
The maturation or remodeling phase replaces type III collagen with stronger type I collagen and reorganizes the matrix over months to years.
Question 2: A fistula is best defined as:
- An abnormal opening between two epithelium-lined organs or surfaces (Correct answer)
- A deep sinus tract extending to bone
- A wound complication caused by infection
- An area of tissue necrosis within a wound bed
Correct answer: An abnormal opening between two epithelium-lined organs or surfaces
A fistula is an abnormal communication between two epithelialized surfaces, such as an enteric-cutaneous fistula.
Question 3: Which clinical sign best differentiates wound infection from critical colonization?
- Increased exudate volume alone
- Presence of systemic fever and erythema extending beyond the wound margin (Correct answer)
- Wound odor
- Change in exudate color
Correct answer: Presence of systemic fever and erythema extending beyond the wound margin
Systemic signs (fever, spreading cellulitis) distinguish wound infection from colonization, which lacks host inflammatory response.
Question 4: The PUSH tool (Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing) evaluates wound status based on which three parameters?
- Depth, exudate type, and odor
- Surface area, exudate amount, and tissue type (Correct answer)
- Undermining, tunneling, and depth
- Pain, edema, and erythema
Correct answer: Surface area, exudate amount, and tissue type
The PUSH tool scores wounds on surface area (length × width), exudate amount, and tissue type to track healing progress.
Question 5: Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is contraindicated in wounds that:
- Have heavy exudate
- Communicate with body cavities or have exposed vessels (Correct answer)
- Contain slough only
- Are located on the lower extremity
Correct answer: Communicate with body cavities or have exposed vessels
MDT is contraindicated when the wound communicates with a body cavity or has exposed vessels due to risk of migration and hemorrhage.
Question 6: A patient has a pressure injury with full-thickness tissue loss where bone, tendon, or muscle is exposed. This is classified as:
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Stage IV (Correct answer)
- Unstageable
Correct answer: Stage IV
Stage IV pressure injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss with exposed or directly palpable bone, tendon, or muscle.
Question 7: Which laboratory value is considered the most reliable indicator of nutritional status relevant to wound healing?
- Albumin
- Prealbumin (transthyretin) (Correct answer)
- Total lymphocyte count
- C-reactive protein
Correct answer: Prealbumin (transthyretin)
Prealbumin has a short half-life (~2–3 days) making it a more sensitive marker of acute nutritional changes than albumin (half-life ~20 days).
Wound Care Certification Exam Wound Care Certification Knowledge 5
Which phase of wound healing is characterized by contraction of the wound and collagen remodeling, and can last up to 2 years?