CWCN CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which layer of the skin contains the blood vessels, nerves, and appendages like hair
follicles and sweat glands?
A. Epidermis
B. Hypodermis
C. Dermis
D. Stratum corneum
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The dermis is the vascular layer of the skin that contains sensory
receptors, blood vessels, and skin appendages. The epidermis is avascular.
2. During which phase of wound healing do macrophages peak in activity and perform
phagocytosis while releasing growth factors?
A. Hemostasis
B. Inflammatory phase
C. Proliferative phase
,D. Maturation phase
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The inflammatory phase (typically days 1-4) is characterized by
macrophage infiltration for debris removal and stimulation of fibroblasts.
3. A pressure injury presenting as full-thickness skin loss with exposed bone, tendon, or
muscle is classified as:
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Unstageable
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Stage 4 pressure injuries involve full-thickness skin and tissue
loss with exposed or directly palpable fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, or bone.
4. An Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) result of 0.45 indicates which of the following?
A. Normal arterial flow
B. Mild peripheral artery disease
C. Non-compressible vessels
D. Moderate to severe arterial disease
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: An ABI of 0.41 to 0.90 suggests mild-to-moderate disease;
however, values below 0.5 are typically indicative of severe arterial insufficiency and
ischemia.
5. Which type of debridement uses the body’s own enzymes and moisture under an occlusive
dressing to liquefy necrotic tissue?
A. Autolytic debridement
B. Mechanical debridement
C. Enzymatic debridement
D. Biological debridement
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Autolytic debridement uses the body’s endogenous enzymes to
digest necrotic tissue, facilitated by moisture-retentive dressings.
6. A patient presents with a painful, punched-out ulcer on the lateral malleolus with cool skin
and absent pulses. This is most likely:
A. Venous ulcer
B. Arterial ulcer
C. Diabetic ulcer
D. Pressure injury
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Which layer of the skin contains the blood vessels, nerves, and appendages like hair
follicles and sweat glands?
A. Epidermis
B. Hypodermis
C. Dermis
D. Stratum corneum
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The dermis is the vascular layer of the skin that contains sensory
receptors, blood vessels, and skin appendages. The epidermis is avascular.
2. During which phase of wound healing do macrophages peak in activity and perform
phagocytosis while releasing growth factors?
A. Hemostasis
B. Inflammatory phase
C. Proliferative phase
,D. Maturation phase
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The inflammatory phase (typically days 1-4) is characterized by
macrophage infiltration for debris removal and stimulation of fibroblasts.
3. A pressure injury presenting as full-thickness skin loss with exposed bone, tendon, or
muscle is classified as:
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Unstageable
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Stage 4 pressure injuries involve full-thickness skin and tissue
loss with exposed or directly palpable fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, or bone.
4. An Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) result of 0.45 indicates which of the following?
A. Normal arterial flow
B. Mild peripheral artery disease
C. Non-compressible vessels
D. Moderate to severe arterial disease
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: An ABI of 0.41 to 0.90 suggests mild-to-moderate disease;
however, values below 0.5 are typically indicative of severe arterial insufficiency and
ischemia.
5. Which type of debridement uses the body’s own enzymes and moisture under an occlusive
dressing to liquefy necrotic tissue?
A. Autolytic debridement
B. Mechanical debridement
C. Enzymatic debridement
D. Biological debridement
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Autolytic debridement uses the body’s endogenous enzymes to
digest necrotic tissue, facilitated by moisture-retentive dressings.
6. A patient presents with a painful, punched-out ulcer on the lateral malleolus with cool skin
and absent pulses. This is most likely:
A. Venous ulcer
B. Arterial ulcer
C. Diabetic ulcer
D. Pressure injury
