CWS Wound Assessment and Dressing Selection Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 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 6 CWS Wound Assessment and Dressing Selection Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is the primary goal of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)?
Answer: Remove excess exudate, reduce edema, and promote granulation tissue formation
NPWT applies sub-atmospheric pressure to remove exudate, decrease interstitial edema, and stimulate blood flow and granulation tissue formation.
Which assessment scale specifically measures pressure injury risk using criteria such as sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear?
Answer: Braden Scale
The Braden Scale evaluates six subscales—sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear—to quantify pressure injury risk.
When should a hydrogel dressing be selected over a hydrocolloid dressing?
Answer: For dry or minimally exudating wounds requiring rehydration, especially with necrosis or slough
Hydrogels donate moisture to dry wound beds and soften necrotic tissue, making them ideal for dry, necrotic, or minimally exudating wounds.
What is wound tunneling, and why is it clinically significant?
Answer: A channel extending from the wound into surrounding tissue, which can harbor bacteria and prevent healing if not packed
Tunneling is a narrow channel or passageway extending from the wound into surrounding tissue; it must be measured and loosely packed to prevent abscess formation.
Which intervention is considered the gold standard for offloading plantar diabetic foot ulcers in the US?
Answer: Total contact casting (TCC)
Total contact casting is the gold standard because it distributes plantar pressure across the entire foot and is non-removable, ensuring consistent offloading compliance.
What does the NERDS acronym help clinicians assess in a chronic wound?
Answer: Surface critical colonization: Non-healing, Exudate increase, Red friable granulation, Debris, Smell
NERDS (Non-healing, Exudate increase, Red friable granulation, Debris/discoloration, Smell/odor) identifies signs of surface critical colonization requiring topical antimicrobial treatment.