68W Basic Wound Care Exam Practice
Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. Wound Assessment
Which finding is most important when initially assessing a wound?
A. The patient's preferred dressing color
B. The patient's occupation
C. The location and characteristics of the wound
D. The patient's last meal
Rationale: Wound assessment begins with determining the wound's location, size,
depth, appearance, mechanism, contamination, bleeding, and associated tissue
damage. These findings guide subsequent treatment and help identify
complications.
2. Body Substance Isolation
When treating an open wound, the medic should initially assume that:
A. Only visible blood is infectious
B. Body fluids may contain infectious material
C. Gloves are unnecessary for minor wounds
D. Sterile technique eliminates every exposure risk
Rationale: Current Army training materials emphasize treating body fluids as
potentially infectious and using appropriate body-substance isolation precautions,
including gloves and eye protection when indicated.
3. Wound Classification
A wound caused by an object penetrating through the skin is best described as:
,A. Abrasion
B. Contusion
C. Puncture wound
D. Hematoma
Rationale: A puncture wound results when a pointed object penetrates the skin
and underlying tissue. The external opening may be small even when deeper
structures have been injured.
4. Abrasion
An abrasion primarily involves:
A. Complete separation of a limb
B. Deep penetration into a body cavity
C. Superficial scraping of the skin
D. A closed fracture
Rationale: An abrasion occurs when friction removes or damages superficial layers
of skin. Road rash is a common example.
5. Laceration
A laceration is best described as:
A. A closed soft-tissue bruise
B. A tear or cut in the skin and underlying tissue
C. A burn caused by radiation
D. A collection of blood beneath intact skin
Rationale: A laceration is an open wound involving a cut or tear of tissue. Its depth
and location determine the appropriate treatment and need for further medical
evaluation.
6. Contusion
A contusion is commonly caused by:
A. Penetration by a sharp object
B. Blunt-force trauma
C. Chemical exposure only
D. Surgical incision
,Rationale: A contusion, commonly called a bruise, occurs when blunt force
damages small blood vessels and soft tissue without necessarily breaking the skin.
7. Hematoma
A hematoma is:
A. A superficial skin infection
B. A type of abrasion
C. A localized collection of blood within tissue
D. A sterile dressing
Rationale: A hematoma forms when blood escapes from damaged vessels and
collects within surrounding tissue.
8. Closed Soft-Tissue Injury
Which characteristic distinguishes a closed soft-tissue injury from an open
wound?
A. It always involves a fracture
B. It always requires surgery
C. The skin remains intact over the injured tissue
D. It cannot produce swelling
Rationale: In a closed soft-tissue injury, the skin is not broken even though
underlying tissue may be damaged. Bruises and many hematomas are examples.
9. Wound Bleeding
The primary immediate concern with severe external bleeding is:
A. Scarring
B. Cosmetic appearance
C. Loss of circulating blood volume
D. Mild itching
Rationale: Significant blood loss can rapidly cause inadequate tissue perfusion and
hemorrhagic shock. Controlling life-threatening bleeding takes priority over less
urgent wound concerns.
10. Direct Pressure
, The primary purpose of applying direct pressure to a bleeding wound is to:
A. Increase blood flow through the wound
B. Compress injured blood vessels and promote hemostasis
C. Remove all damaged tissue
D. Increase swelling
Rationale: Direct pressure compresses bleeding vessels against surrounding tissue
and is a fundamental method of controlling external hemorrhage.
11. Hemostatic Dressing
A hemostatic dressing is primarily used to:
A. Treat a closed fracture
B. Reduce body temperature
C. Assist in controlling significant bleeding
D. Prevent dehydration
Rationale: Hemostatic dressings contain materials that promote clot formation
and can assist with hemorrhage control when standard pressure alone is
insufficient.
12. Wound Packing
Wound packing is particularly useful when:
A. The injury is a superficial paper cut
B. Bleeding originates from a deep wound that can be packed with appropriate
material
C. The wound is completely closed
D. There is no bleeding
Rationale: Packing places appropriate gauze or hemostatic material directly into a
wound to provide pressure against bleeding vessels. It is especially useful for
wounds where a tourniquet cannot be applied.
13. Bandage Purpose
The primary purpose of a bandage is to:
Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. Wound Assessment
Which finding is most important when initially assessing a wound?
A. The patient's preferred dressing color
B. The patient's occupation
C. The location and characteristics of the wound
D. The patient's last meal
Rationale: Wound assessment begins with determining the wound's location, size,
depth, appearance, mechanism, contamination, bleeding, and associated tissue
damage. These findings guide subsequent treatment and help identify
complications.
2. Body Substance Isolation
When treating an open wound, the medic should initially assume that:
A. Only visible blood is infectious
B. Body fluids may contain infectious material
C. Gloves are unnecessary for minor wounds
D. Sterile technique eliminates every exposure risk
Rationale: Current Army training materials emphasize treating body fluids as
potentially infectious and using appropriate body-substance isolation precautions,
including gloves and eye protection when indicated.
3. Wound Classification
A wound caused by an object penetrating through the skin is best described as:
,A. Abrasion
B. Contusion
C. Puncture wound
D. Hematoma
Rationale: A puncture wound results when a pointed object penetrates the skin
and underlying tissue. The external opening may be small even when deeper
structures have been injured.
4. Abrasion
An abrasion primarily involves:
A. Complete separation of a limb
B. Deep penetration into a body cavity
C. Superficial scraping of the skin
D. A closed fracture
Rationale: An abrasion occurs when friction removes or damages superficial layers
of skin. Road rash is a common example.
5. Laceration
A laceration is best described as:
A. A closed soft-tissue bruise
B. A tear or cut in the skin and underlying tissue
C. A burn caused by radiation
D. A collection of blood beneath intact skin
Rationale: A laceration is an open wound involving a cut or tear of tissue. Its depth
and location determine the appropriate treatment and need for further medical
evaluation.
6. Contusion
A contusion is commonly caused by:
A. Penetration by a sharp object
B. Blunt-force trauma
C. Chemical exposure only
D. Surgical incision
,Rationale: A contusion, commonly called a bruise, occurs when blunt force
damages small blood vessels and soft tissue without necessarily breaking the skin.
7. Hematoma
A hematoma is:
A. A superficial skin infection
B. A type of abrasion
C. A localized collection of blood within tissue
D. A sterile dressing
Rationale: A hematoma forms when blood escapes from damaged vessels and
collects within surrounding tissue.
8. Closed Soft-Tissue Injury
Which characteristic distinguishes a closed soft-tissue injury from an open
wound?
A. It always involves a fracture
B. It always requires surgery
C. The skin remains intact over the injured tissue
D. It cannot produce swelling
Rationale: In a closed soft-tissue injury, the skin is not broken even though
underlying tissue may be damaged. Bruises and many hematomas are examples.
9. Wound Bleeding
The primary immediate concern with severe external bleeding is:
A. Scarring
B. Cosmetic appearance
C. Loss of circulating blood volume
D. Mild itching
Rationale: Significant blood loss can rapidly cause inadequate tissue perfusion and
hemorrhagic shock. Controlling life-threatening bleeding takes priority over less
urgent wound concerns.
10. Direct Pressure
, The primary purpose of applying direct pressure to a bleeding wound is to:
A. Increase blood flow through the wound
B. Compress injured blood vessels and promote hemostasis
C. Remove all damaged tissue
D. Increase swelling
Rationale: Direct pressure compresses bleeding vessels against surrounding tissue
and is a fundamental method of controlling external hemorrhage.
11. Hemostatic Dressing
A hemostatic dressing is primarily used to:
A. Treat a closed fracture
B. Reduce body temperature
C. Assist in controlling significant bleeding
D. Prevent dehydration
Rationale: Hemostatic dressings contain materials that promote clot formation
and can assist with hemorrhage control when standard pressure alone is
insufficient.
12. Wound Packing
Wound packing is particularly useful when:
A. The injury is a superficial paper cut
B. Bleeding originates from a deep wound that can be packed with appropriate
material
C. The wound is completely closed
D. There is no bleeding
Rationale: Packing places appropriate gauze or hemostatic material directly into a
wound to provide pressure against bleeding vessels. It is especially useful for
wounds where a tourniquet cannot be applied.
13. Bandage Purpose
The primary purpose of a bandage is to:
