CWCN Practice Questions and answer
verified to pass 2025/2026
The foot care nurse should describe the distal margin of superficial skin extending over the base of the
toenail as:
a. subungual
b. periungual
c. perionychium
d. eponychium - correct answer ✔d. eponychium
Which of the following is an example of mechanical debridement?
A. Using gauze moistened with 0.25% sodium hypochlorite solution and a cover dressing
B. Applying saline moistened gauze to the wound bed and removing when dry
C. Cleansing with betadine and applying a thin layer of silver sulfadiazine cream
D. Using saline to clean the wound and applying a thin film dressing - correct answer ✔B. Applying
saline moistened gauze to the wound bed and removing when dry
A 58 year old gentleman presents to the outpatient wound clinic for a new onset of scattered bullae to
the upper arms, shoulder and a few areas on the abdomen and trunk. The palmar surfaces of his hands
are red. You note that the intact skin is dry and has a "tight" texture. He has been seeing dermatology
for the past few years and states he is taking the tacrolimus (Prograf®) as scheduled for the Graft vs.
Host Disease (GVHD). Your plan of wound care will include:
A. A hydrocolloid dressing
B. A referral to the Registered Dietician, RD
C. A non-adherent, absorptive dressing
D. Transparent film as the secondary dressing - correct answer ✔C. A non-adherent, absorptive
dressing
,A patient with a right venous insufficiency leg ulcer returns to the clinic 2 weeks after initiating weekly
compression therapy; the leg edema is markedly reduced, but the patient continues to have a large
amount of exudate. The wound has enlarged, and there is increased periwound erythema extending 3
cm from the wound edge. What is the best wound care-management approach at this point?
A. Weekly sharp debridement
B. Apply silver nitrate
C. Increase the compression-dressing change frequency
D. Consider obtaining a wound culture - correct answer ✔D. Consider obtaining a wound culture
Mr. Jones, 75, lives with his family at home. His BMI is 45. He has two stage IV pressure ulcers; one on
his left trochanter, and one on his sacrum. You are developing the plan of care. You understand that,
under Medicare guidelines, your patient qualifies for a specialty surface. The best surface for Mr. Jones
is:
A. A low air loss mattress replacement
B. A small-cell mattress overlay
C. An air-fluidized bed
D. A high-density foam mattress - correct answer ✔A. A low air loss mattress replacement
You are assessing a patient's neuropathic swollen foot and notice that the 6 mm indentation of the left
dorsal foot does not resolve after 1 minute. The edema is graded at:
A. 4+
B. Weeping
C. 2+
D. 3+ - correct answer ✔D. 3+
A family member calls you to relay their concern that their mother's abdominal incision has "popped
open" and is draining a moderate amount of clear yellow fluid. When you arrive at their home, you find
,that the central area of the incision has opened without any evidence of tunneling, undermining or
evisceration. What is the most appropriate primary dressing?
A. Calcium alginate packing
B. Wet-to-dry gauze packing
C. Amorphous hydrogel
D. Enzymatic ointment - correct answer ✔A. Calcium alginate packing
A patient's chronic, nonhealing left neuropathic plantar ulcer appears stalled. The patient has a history
of a below-the-knee amputation (BKA) secondary to osteomyelitis. You recommend the following
adjunctive therapy in addition to local wound care and offloading to prevent an additional major
amputation:
A. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
B. Whirlpool treatments
c. A low-grade compression stocking
d. Total contact casting - correct answer ✔A. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
A patient and her husband present to the clinic with a lateral lower leg ulcer. The patient's Ankle
Brachial Index (ABI) = 0.5. The spouse tells the clinician that the wound has always healed in the past
with an Unna Boot dressing on the affected leg, changed weekly. You reply:
A. This will be an appropriate compression dressing to help the wound heal
B. The medicated zinc in the wrap is known to heal arterial ulcers
C. It is important to visualize the ulcer more than once a week
D. Zinc application to the periwound will help prevent infection - correct answer ✔C. It is important to
visualize the ulcer more than once a week
A 73-year-old patient presents with a weeping wound on the right leg gaiter region with associated long-
standing lower leg edema. The patient reports leg pain that worsens during the day. In discussing
treatment recommendations with the patient, the CWCN provides education that:
, A. Solo therapy with absorptive dressing is indicated.
B. Compression therapy assists with increased healing rates, improved symptoms, and reduction of
edema.
C. Limb elevation for extending periods throughout the day is the best method for edema reduction
D. Pharmacotherapy with diuretics for fluid reduction is the best treatment option for edema. - correct
answer ✔B. Compression therapy assists with increased healing rates, improved symptoms, and
reduction of edema.
You suspect that a patient may have a wound infection. What is the best technique to obtain a wound
culture?
A. Flush the wound with sterile water followed by a 10-point swab covering all the areas of the wound
surface
B. Use a 19-gauge angiocatheter and a 10-cc syringe to aspirate purulent fluid from the wound bed
C. Flush the wound with normal saline and swab 1 square cm of the viable tissue with enough force to
produce fluid
D. Clean the wound with providone iodine, then use a10-pt swab to cover all the areas of the wound
surface - correct answer ✔C. Flush the wound with normal saline and swab 1 square cm of the viable
tissue with enough force to produce fluid
A 73-year-old woman with irritable bowel hesitantly reports occasional bowel leakage. Which of the
following strategies can the Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN) employ to help reduce her
reluctance to share with her health care team?
A. Suggest a referral to a psychologist.
B. Offer body-worn absorbent product information.
C. Communicate consistently and avoid blaming language.
D. Provide a handout of pelvic floor exercises. - correct answer ✔C. Offer body-worn absorbent product
information.
verified to pass 2025/2026
The foot care nurse should describe the distal margin of superficial skin extending over the base of the
toenail as:
a. subungual
b. periungual
c. perionychium
d. eponychium - correct answer ✔d. eponychium
Which of the following is an example of mechanical debridement?
A. Using gauze moistened with 0.25% sodium hypochlorite solution and a cover dressing
B. Applying saline moistened gauze to the wound bed and removing when dry
C. Cleansing with betadine and applying a thin layer of silver sulfadiazine cream
D. Using saline to clean the wound and applying a thin film dressing - correct answer ✔B. Applying
saline moistened gauze to the wound bed and removing when dry
A 58 year old gentleman presents to the outpatient wound clinic for a new onset of scattered bullae to
the upper arms, shoulder and a few areas on the abdomen and trunk. The palmar surfaces of his hands
are red. You note that the intact skin is dry and has a "tight" texture. He has been seeing dermatology
for the past few years and states he is taking the tacrolimus (Prograf®) as scheduled for the Graft vs.
Host Disease (GVHD). Your plan of wound care will include:
A. A hydrocolloid dressing
B. A referral to the Registered Dietician, RD
C. A non-adherent, absorptive dressing
D. Transparent film as the secondary dressing - correct answer ✔C. A non-adherent, absorptive
dressing
,A patient with a right venous insufficiency leg ulcer returns to the clinic 2 weeks after initiating weekly
compression therapy; the leg edema is markedly reduced, but the patient continues to have a large
amount of exudate. The wound has enlarged, and there is increased periwound erythema extending 3
cm from the wound edge. What is the best wound care-management approach at this point?
A. Weekly sharp debridement
B. Apply silver nitrate
C. Increase the compression-dressing change frequency
D. Consider obtaining a wound culture - correct answer ✔D. Consider obtaining a wound culture
Mr. Jones, 75, lives with his family at home. His BMI is 45. He has two stage IV pressure ulcers; one on
his left trochanter, and one on his sacrum. You are developing the plan of care. You understand that,
under Medicare guidelines, your patient qualifies for a specialty surface. The best surface for Mr. Jones
is:
A. A low air loss mattress replacement
B. A small-cell mattress overlay
C. An air-fluidized bed
D. A high-density foam mattress - correct answer ✔A. A low air loss mattress replacement
You are assessing a patient's neuropathic swollen foot and notice that the 6 mm indentation of the left
dorsal foot does not resolve after 1 minute. The edema is graded at:
A. 4+
B. Weeping
C. 2+
D. 3+ - correct answer ✔D. 3+
A family member calls you to relay their concern that their mother's abdominal incision has "popped
open" and is draining a moderate amount of clear yellow fluid. When you arrive at their home, you find
,that the central area of the incision has opened without any evidence of tunneling, undermining or
evisceration. What is the most appropriate primary dressing?
A. Calcium alginate packing
B. Wet-to-dry gauze packing
C. Amorphous hydrogel
D. Enzymatic ointment - correct answer ✔A. Calcium alginate packing
A patient's chronic, nonhealing left neuropathic plantar ulcer appears stalled. The patient has a history
of a below-the-knee amputation (BKA) secondary to osteomyelitis. You recommend the following
adjunctive therapy in addition to local wound care and offloading to prevent an additional major
amputation:
A. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
B. Whirlpool treatments
c. A low-grade compression stocking
d. Total contact casting - correct answer ✔A. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
A patient and her husband present to the clinic with a lateral lower leg ulcer. The patient's Ankle
Brachial Index (ABI) = 0.5. The spouse tells the clinician that the wound has always healed in the past
with an Unna Boot dressing on the affected leg, changed weekly. You reply:
A. This will be an appropriate compression dressing to help the wound heal
B. The medicated zinc in the wrap is known to heal arterial ulcers
C. It is important to visualize the ulcer more than once a week
D. Zinc application to the periwound will help prevent infection - correct answer ✔C. It is important to
visualize the ulcer more than once a week
A 73-year-old patient presents with a weeping wound on the right leg gaiter region with associated long-
standing lower leg edema. The patient reports leg pain that worsens during the day. In discussing
treatment recommendations with the patient, the CWCN provides education that:
, A. Solo therapy with absorptive dressing is indicated.
B. Compression therapy assists with increased healing rates, improved symptoms, and reduction of
edema.
C. Limb elevation for extending periods throughout the day is the best method for edema reduction
D. Pharmacotherapy with diuretics for fluid reduction is the best treatment option for edema. - correct
answer ✔B. Compression therapy assists with increased healing rates, improved symptoms, and
reduction of edema.
You suspect that a patient may have a wound infection. What is the best technique to obtain a wound
culture?
A. Flush the wound with sterile water followed by a 10-point swab covering all the areas of the wound
surface
B. Use a 19-gauge angiocatheter and a 10-cc syringe to aspirate purulent fluid from the wound bed
C. Flush the wound with normal saline and swab 1 square cm of the viable tissue with enough force to
produce fluid
D. Clean the wound with providone iodine, then use a10-pt swab to cover all the areas of the wound
surface - correct answer ✔C. Flush the wound with normal saline and swab 1 square cm of the viable
tissue with enough force to produce fluid
A 73-year-old woman with irritable bowel hesitantly reports occasional bowel leakage. Which of the
following strategies can the Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN) employ to help reduce her
reluctance to share with her health care team?
A. Suggest a referral to a psychologist.
B. Offer body-worn absorbent product information.
C. Communicate consistently and avoid blaming language.
D. Provide a handout of pelvic floor exercises. - correct answer ✔C. Offer body-worn absorbent product
information.
