Certified Wound Specialist Flashcards
7 cards from real CWS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Certified Wound Specialist flashcards as text
Which clinical finding best distinguishes a venous leg ulcer from an arterial ulcer?
Answer: Location at the medial malleolus with surrounding lipodermatosclerosis
Venous ulcers typically occur at the medial malleolus with surrounding lipodermatosclerosis and hemosiderin staining, unlike the punched-out appearance of arterial ulcers.
Which component of the wound bed preparation concept does the 'M' in TIME represent?
Answer: Moisture imbalance
In the TIME framework, M stands for Moisture imbalance, addressing wounds that are too dry or too wet to heal optimally.
A patient with diabetes has a plantar ulcer classified as Wagner Grade 3. What does this indicate?
Answer: Full-thickness ulcer with abscess or osteomyelitis
Wagner Grade 3 indicates a deep ulcer with abscess, osteomyelitis, or joint sepsis, requiring aggressive medical and surgical management.
Which debridement method is most selective and preserves healthy tissue while removing only necrotic tissue?
Answer: Enzymatic debridement with collagenase
Enzymatic debridement with collagenase selectively digests necrotic collagen while sparing viable tissue, making it the most selective method.
In the context of biofilm management, what is the primary reason topical antibiotics alone are insufficient?
Answer: Biofilm's extracellular polymeric substance matrix protects bacteria from antimicrobial penetration
The extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix of biofilm acts as a physical and chemical barrier, preventing adequate antibiotic penetration to embedded bacteria.
A patient's pressure injury presents as intact skin with non-blanchable erythema. This is classified as which stage?
Answer: Stage 1
Stage 1 pressure injuries are characterized by intact skin with localized non-blanchable erythema, typically over a bony prominence.
Which nutritional marker is most commonly used to assess protein status in wound patients?
Answer: Serum albumin
Serum albumin, though affected by inflammation and hydration status, remains a widely used marker of protein status and nutritional risk in wound care.