Clinical Study Resource Covering Wound Assessment, Pressure
Injury Prevention, ATI Wound Care Nursing Comprehensive
Review Guide 2026: Complete Dressing Selection, Infection
Control, Documentation Standards, Healing Stages, and
Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions for Exam Preparation
and Practice Success
1. What is the primary goal of wound care?
• A) Preventing infection
• B) Promoting healing
• C) Reducing pain
• D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: All aspects including infection prevention, promoting healing, and pain management are
essential goals of wound care. A comprehensive approach addresses each of these components to
achieve optimal wound healing outcomes.
2. Which phase of wound healing involves clot formation and inflammation?
• A) Proliferative phase
• B) Inflammatory phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Remodeling phase
Answer: B) Inflammatory phase
Rationale: The inflammatory phase starts immediately after injury with clotting and immune response
to prevent infection. This phase begins with the injury and lasts 3 to 6 days, involving vasoconstriction,
clot formation, and delivery of oxygen, WBCs, and nutrients to the area.
3. During which phase of wound healing does granulation tissue form?
• A) Inflammatory phase
, • B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: B) Proliferative phase
Rationale: The proliferative phase lasts from 3 to 24 days and involves replacing lost tissue with
connective or granulation tissue, contracting the wound's edges, and resurfacing with new epithelial
cells. Healthy granulation tissue does not bleed easily.
4. Which phase of wound healing involves strengthening of the collagen scar?
• A) Inflammatory phase
• B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation/Remodeling phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: C) Maturation/Remodeling phase
Rationale: The maturation or remodeling stage occurs after day 21 and involves strengthening of the
collagen scar and restoration of a more normal appearance. It can take more than 1 year to complete,
depending on the extent of the original wound.
5. A nurse is assessing a wound that is 5 days post-injury. The wound edges are red, and there is new
tissue growth. Which phase of healing is this wound in?
• A) Inflammatory phase
• B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: B) Proliferative phase
Rationale: The proliferative phase occurs from approximately day 3 to day 24 post-injury. During this
phase, granulation tissue forms (appearing red), collagen is deposited, and wound edges contract. Red
tissue indicates healthy regeneration of tissue.
6. A client's wound has been healing for 6 months. The scar tissue is still remodeling. This describes
which phase?
• A) Inflammatory phase
, • B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: C) Maturation phase
Rationale: The maturation/remodeling phase begins after day 21 and can take more than 1 year to
complete. During this phase, collagen fibers reorganize, and the wound gains tensile strength.
7. Following an acute injury, which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care to
prevent prolongation of the inflammatory phase?
• A) Apply oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
• B) Apply a dry sterile dressing
• C) Administer corticosteroids
• D) Keep the wound open to air
Answer: A) Apply oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
Rationale: Following an acute injury, the body responds best by increasing oxygen to improve perfusion,
which is essential for healing. It is common to see a delay in the resolution of the inflammatory phase of
chronic wounds in clients who have a lack of oxygen or poor perfusion.
8. A nurse observes a deep red color on the center of a client's wound. This finding indicates:
• A) Infection
• B) Healthy granulation tissue
• C) Necrotic tissue
• D) Poor perfusion
Answer: B) Healthy granulation tissue
Rationale: Red tissue indicates healthy regeneration of tissue. Healthy granulation tissue does not bleed
easily. Dark granulation tissue can be a sign of infection, ischemia, or poor perfusion.
9. A nurse observes yellow tissue in a wound bed. This finding indicates:
• A) Healthy granulation tissue
• B) Presence of purulent drainage and slough
, • C) Healing by primary intention
• D) Eschar formation
Answer: B) Presence of purulent drainage and slough
Rationale: Yellow tissue in a wound bed indicates the presence of purulent drainage and slough. Slough
is stringy necrotic tissue that appears whitish, yellowish, or tan in color and is firmly attached to the
wound bed.
10. Black tissue in a wound bed indicates:
• A) Healthy granulation tissue
• B) Presence of eschar that hinders healing and requires removal
• C) Active infection
• D) Healing by secondary intention
Answer: B) Presence of eschar that hinders healing and requires removal
Rationale: Black tissue in a wound bed indicates the presence of eschar (necrotic tissue) that hinders
healing and requires removal. Eschar must be debrided before the wound can heal properly.
11. A nurse is caring for a client with a chronic nonhealing wound. Which medication is known to
delay wound healing?
• A) Antibiotics
• B) Corticosteroids
• C) Antihypertensives
• D) Anticoagulants
Answer: B) Corticosteroids
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune system and can therefore delay wound healing. Clients
on long-term corticosteroid therapy are at increased risk for impaired wound healing.
12. A client with diabetes mellitus is 2 days postoperative. Which risk factors for poor wound healing
does this client have? (Select all that apply)
• A) Extremes in age
• B) Impaired circulation
• C) Impaired/suppressed immune system
Injury Prevention, ATI Wound Care Nursing Comprehensive
Review Guide 2026: Complete Dressing Selection, Infection
Control, Documentation Standards, Healing Stages, and
Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions for Exam Preparation
and Practice Success
1. What is the primary goal of wound care?
• A) Preventing infection
• B) Promoting healing
• C) Reducing pain
• D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: All aspects including infection prevention, promoting healing, and pain management are
essential goals of wound care. A comprehensive approach addresses each of these components to
achieve optimal wound healing outcomes.
2. Which phase of wound healing involves clot formation and inflammation?
• A) Proliferative phase
• B) Inflammatory phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Remodeling phase
Answer: B) Inflammatory phase
Rationale: The inflammatory phase starts immediately after injury with clotting and immune response
to prevent infection. This phase begins with the injury and lasts 3 to 6 days, involving vasoconstriction,
clot formation, and delivery of oxygen, WBCs, and nutrients to the area.
3. During which phase of wound healing does granulation tissue form?
• A) Inflammatory phase
, • B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: B) Proliferative phase
Rationale: The proliferative phase lasts from 3 to 24 days and involves replacing lost tissue with
connective or granulation tissue, contracting the wound's edges, and resurfacing with new epithelial
cells. Healthy granulation tissue does not bleed easily.
4. Which phase of wound healing involves strengthening of the collagen scar?
• A) Inflammatory phase
• B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation/Remodeling phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: C) Maturation/Remodeling phase
Rationale: The maturation or remodeling stage occurs after day 21 and involves strengthening of the
collagen scar and restoration of a more normal appearance. It can take more than 1 year to complete,
depending on the extent of the original wound.
5. A nurse is assessing a wound that is 5 days post-injury. The wound edges are red, and there is new
tissue growth. Which phase of healing is this wound in?
• A) Inflammatory phase
• B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: B) Proliferative phase
Rationale: The proliferative phase occurs from approximately day 3 to day 24 post-injury. During this
phase, granulation tissue forms (appearing red), collagen is deposited, and wound edges contract. Red
tissue indicates healthy regeneration of tissue.
6. A client's wound has been healing for 6 months. The scar tissue is still remodeling. This describes
which phase?
• A) Inflammatory phase
, • B) Proliferative phase
• C) Maturation phase
• D) Hemostasis phase
Answer: C) Maturation phase
Rationale: The maturation/remodeling phase begins after day 21 and can take more than 1 year to
complete. During this phase, collagen fibers reorganize, and the wound gains tensile strength.
7. Following an acute injury, which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care to
prevent prolongation of the inflammatory phase?
• A) Apply oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
• B) Apply a dry sterile dressing
• C) Administer corticosteroids
• D) Keep the wound open to air
Answer: A) Apply oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
Rationale: Following an acute injury, the body responds best by increasing oxygen to improve perfusion,
which is essential for healing. It is common to see a delay in the resolution of the inflammatory phase of
chronic wounds in clients who have a lack of oxygen or poor perfusion.
8. A nurse observes a deep red color on the center of a client's wound. This finding indicates:
• A) Infection
• B) Healthy granulation tissue
• C) Necrotic tissue
• D) Poor perfusion
Answer: B) Healthy granulation tissue
Rationale: Red tissue indicates healthy regeneration of tissue. Healthy granulation tissue does not bleed
easily. Dark granulation tissue can be a sign of infection, ischemia, or poor perfusion.
9. A nurse observes yellow tissue in a wound bed. This finding indicates:
• A) Healthy granulation tissue
• B) Presence of purulent drainage and slough
, • C) Healing by primary intention
• D) Eschar formation
Answer: B) Presence of purulent drainage and slough
Rationale: Yellow tissue in a wound bed indicates the presence of purulent drainage and slough. Slough
is stringy necrotic tissue that appears whitish, yellowish, or tan in color and is firmly attached to the
wound bed.
10. Black tissue in a wound bed indicates:
• A) Healthy granulation tissue
• B) Presence of eschar that hinders healing and requires removal
• C) Active infection
• D) Healing by secondary intention
Answer: B) Presence of eschar that hinders healing and requires removal
Rationale: Black tissue in a wound bed indicates the presence of eschar (necrotic tissue) that hinders
healing and requires removal. Eschar must be debrided before the wound can heal properly.
11. A nurse is caring for a client with a chronic nonhealing wound. Which medication is known to
delay wound healing?
• A) Antibiotics
• B) Corticosteroids
• C) Antihypertensives
• D) Anticoagulants
Answer: B) Corticosteroids
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune system and can therefore delay wound healing. Clients
on long-term corticosteroid therapy are at increased risk for impaired wound healing.
12. A client with diabetes mellitus is 2 days postoperative. Which risk factors for poor wound healing
does this client have? (Select all that apply)
• A) Extremes in age
• B) Impaired circulation
• C) Impaired/suppressed immune system
