NU 155
EXAM 3
Tested Questions with Rationales
Medical-Surgical Nursing I
Galen College of Nursing
This Document Description:
This document contains a collection of tested and
verified questions with accurate answers from
Exam 3 of NU 155 at the Galen College of Nursing.
It covers core topics assessed in the course and
reflects the actual exam format and question style. Ideal for exam
preparation and concept reinforcement.
,1. When changing the dressing on a client’s partial-thickness wound,
the nurse observes a beefy-red translucent wound bed. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
a. Contact the primary health care provider (PCP) immediately.
b. Document the findings as abnormal and continue to observe.
c. Culture the wound and place the client in isolation.
d. Discard the old dressing and cover the wound with a new dressing.
Correct Answer: d
Expert Rationale: A beefy-red translucent wound bed indicates healthy
granulation tissue which is expected in a healing partial-thickness wound.
The nurse should gently discard the old dressing and apply a new dressing
using sterile technique to promote healing. Immediate contact with PCP or
cultures/isolation are not indicated unless infection signs are apparent.
---
2. The nurse is teaching a newly hired nurse about the risk factors for
dehiscence for clients who have surgical incisions. Which of the
following factors should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. Altered mental status.
b. Nutritional deficiencies.
c. Advanced age.
d. Immobility.
Correct Answer: b
Expert Rationale: Nutritional deficiencies, especially lack of protein and
vitamins like vitamin C and zinc, impair wound healing and increase risk for
dehiscence. Altered mental status and advanced age are less directly
,related, and immobility generally decreases risk of mechanical stress on
wounds.
---
3. The nurse is caring for a client who is being discharged home with
a surgical wound on the coccyx that is to heal by secondary intention.
Which of the following complications should the nurse prioritize on
the client’s care plan?
a. Contractures.
b. Increased tissue perfusion.
c. Self-care deficit.
d. Disturbed body image.
Correct Answer: d
Expert Rationale: Healing by secondary intention (wound left open to heal
from inside out) often results in scarring and disfigurement, which can lead
to disturbed body image. Contractures are more typical in joints, not coccyx
wounds. Self-care deficit and tissue perfusion are important but less
prioritized in this context.
---
4. The nurse is caring for a client who has a deep pressure ulcer
(Stage 3) that is heavily draining. Which of the following dressing
choices should the nurse choose to promote adequate healing?
a. Transparent, adhesive, film cover.
b. Wet to dry gauze.
, c. Dry cotton gauze.
d. Alginate packing, dry, gauze cover.
Correct Answer: d
Expert Rationale: Alginate dressings are highly absorbent and appropriate
for heavily draining wounds such as stage 3 pressure ulcers. They maintain
moisture balance, promote healing, and reduce dressing change frequency.
Wet-to-dry is outdated and painful; transparent films and dry gauze are
insufficient for drainage.
---
5. The nurse is planning a staff development conference about the
use of hot and cold therapy. Which of the following statements, if
made by a participant, indicates a correct understanding of the
conference?
a. “Cold therapy is for treatment of open wounds because it improves blood
flow to the area.”
b. “Heat therapy is not used in the first 24 hours after a traumatic injury
because it may cause increased swelling and bleeding.”
c. “Heat therapy is not the first 24 hours after injury because it may cause
arterial spasm and delayed healing.”
d. “When using cold therapy, the temperature must be less than 32 degrees
F to achieve the desired effects.”
Correct Answer: b
Expert Rationale: Heat therapy is contraindicated in the first 24 hours after
injury because it can cause vasodilation, increasing swelling and bleeding.
Cold therapy causes vasoconstriction and is typically used immediately
post-injury. The statement about cold therapy improving blood flow is
incorrect.
EXAM 3
Tested Questions with Rationales
Medical-Surgical Nursing I
Galen College of Nursing
This Document Description:
This document contains a collection of tested and
verified questions with accurate answers from
Exam 3 of NU 155 at the Galen College of Nursing.
It covers core topics assessed in the course and
reflects the actual exam format and question style. Ideal for exam
preparation and concept reinforcement.
,1. When changing the dressing on a client’s partial-thickness wound,
the nurse observes a beefy-red translucent wound bed. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
a. Contact the primary health care provider (PCP) immediately.
b. Document the findings as abnormal and continue to observe.
c. Culture the wound and place the client in isolation.
d. Discard the old dressing and cover the wound with a new dressing.
Correct Answer: d
Expert Rationale: A beefy-red translucent wound bed indicates healthy
granulation tissue which is expected in a healing partial-thickness wound.
The nurse should gently discard the old dressing and apply a new dressing
using sterile technique to promote healing. Immediate contact with PCP or
cultures/isolation are not indicated unless infection signs are apparent.
---
2. The nurse is teaching a newly hired nurse about the risk factors for
dehiscence for clients who have surgical incisions. Which of the
following factors should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. Altered mental status.
b. Nutritional deficiencies.
c. Advanced age.
d. Immobility.
Correct Answer: b
Expert Rationale: Nutritional deficiencies, especially lack of protein and
vitamins like vitamin C and zinc, impair wound healing and increase risk for
dehiscence. Altered mental status and advanced age are less directly
,related, and immobility generally decreases risk of mechanical stress on
wounds.
---
3. The nurse is caring for a client who is being discharged home with
a surgical wound on the coccyx that is to heal by secondary intention.
Which of the following complications should the nurse prioritize on
the client’s care plan?
a. Contractures.
b. Increased tissue perfusion.
c. Self-care deficit.
d. Disturbed body image.
Correct Answer: d
Expert Rationale: Healing by secondary intention (wound left open to heal
from inside out) often results in scarring and disfigurement, which can lead
to disturbed body image. Contractures are more typical in joints, not coccyx
wounds. Self-care deficit and tissue perfusion are important but less
prioritized in this context.
---
4. The nurse is caring for a client who has a deep pressure ulcer
(Stage 3) that is heavily draining. Which of the following dressing
choices should the nurse choose to promote adequate healing?
a. Transparent, adhesive, film cover.
b. Wet to dry gauze.
, c. Dry cotton gauze.
d. Alginate packing, dry, gauze cover.
Correct Answer: d
Expert Rationale: Alginate dressings are highly absorbent and appropriate
for heavily draining wounds such as stage 3 pressure ulcers. They maintain
moisture balance, promote healing, and reduce dressing change frequency.
Wet-to-dry is outdated and painful; transparent films and dry gauze are
insufficient for drainage.
---
5. The nurse is planning a staff development conference about the
use of hot and cold therapy. Which of the following statements, if
made by a participant, indicates a correct understanding of the
conference?
a. “Cold therapy is for treatment of open wounds because it improves blood
flow to the area.”
b. “Heat therapy is not used in the first 24 hours after a traumatic injury
because it may cause increased swelling and bleeding.”
c. “Heat therapy is not the first 24 hours after injury because it may cause
arterial spasm and delayed healing.”
d. “When using cold therapy, the temperature must be less than 32 degrees
F to achieve the desired effects.”
Correct Answer: b
Expert Rationale: Heat therapy is contraindicated in the first 24 hours after
injury because it can cause vasodilation, increasing swelling and bleeding.
Cold therapy causes vasoconstriction and is typically used immediately
post-injury. The statement about cold therapy improving blood flow is
incorrect.
