Hemostasis, Inflammatory Response,
Reconstruction, Maturation, Drain
Management, Jackson-Pratt, Penrose,
Dressing Techniques, Occlusive Dressings,
Wet-to-Dry Debridement, Wound Irrigation,
Evisceration, Dehiscence, Staple and Suture
Removal, Drainage Assessment, Serous,
Sanguineous, Serosanguineous, Purulent,
Pain Management, Patient Positioning,
Postoperative Education, Nutrition, Smoking
Effects, Diabetes Implications Exam
Questions Verified and Complete with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
1. The nurse instructs a patient who has a drain in a surgical wound that the wound will heal by:
a.primary intention.
b.secondary intention.
c.tertiary intention.
d.deliberate intention.
c.tertiary intention.
When wounds are kept open by a drain, they heal by tertiary intention.
-delayed primary intention
-practitioner leaves a contaminated wound open and closes it later, after the infection is
controlled by suturing two layers of granulation tissue together.
pg. 616
,1:primary intention: skin edges are closed: Fine scar
2: secondary intention: skin edges are not closed together or when pus has formed: Large scar
3: Tertiary: wound is open and closed later.
2. To assist the postoperative patient to cough, the nurse:
a.supports the patient's back.
b.offers an antitussive.
c.splints the abdomen with a pillow.
d.leans patient against the bedside table.
c.splints the abdomen with a pillow.
To assist a postoperative patient to cough, splinting the abdomen with pillow, hands, or a towel
roll is helpful to relieve stress on the suture line.
pg 618
*3. The day following surgery, the nurse notes bloody drainage on the dressing. The nurse will
record this drainage as:
a.serosanguineous.
b.sanguineous.
c.serous.
d.purulent.
b.sanguineous.
The term sanguineous means bloody. It is indicative of active bleeding.
-Serous: Clear, watery plasma
-Purulent: Thick, yellow, green, tan, or brown
-Serosanguineous: Pale, red, watery, mixture of serous and sanguineous
-Sanguineous: bright, red, indicative active bleeding
pg. 619
Box: 22.2
, *4. The nurse explains that the advantage of an occlusive dressing is that it:
a.allows air to the incision.
b.keeps the incision moist.
c.delays epithelialization.
d.does not have to be changed.
b.keeps the incision moist.
Occlusive (transparent) dressings keep the incision moist and increase epithelialization.
do not permit air nor oxygen to pass
-Thin. self-adhesive transparent film dressings (op-site, tegaderm)
-barrier to external fluids and bacteria
-can stay up to 7 days
-allows for wound assessment without removal of the protective film
stage 1 - 2 pressure injuries
secondary dressing to alginate and foam
pg.620 & 625
skill 22.3
5. When the nurse discovers that the gauze dressing has adhered to the wound, the nurse
should:
a.call the RN.
b.gently remove the gauze with sterile forceps.
c.cover with occlusive dressing.
d.moisten the dressing with sterile water.
d.moisten the dressing with sterile water.
When a dressing has adhered to the wound, the nurse may moisten the dressing with sterile
water or sterile normal saline to loosen it.
Moistening decreases adherence of the dressing to the wound and reduces the risk of further
trauma to the wound