CNST Chapter 40: Wound Care and
Irrigations Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
Healing by primary intention is expected to occur with which of the
following situations?
a.
The wound is left open and is allowed to heal.
b.
A surgical wound is left open for 3 to 5 days.
c.
Connective tissue development is evident.
d.
The edges of a clean incision remain close together. -
correct answer ✅D
Healing by primary intention occurs when the edges of a clean
surgical incision remain close together. The wound heals quickly,
and tissue loss is minimal or absent. The skin cells quickly
regenerate, and the capillary walls stretch across under the suture
line to form a smooth surface as they join. Wounds that are left
open and are allowed to heal by scar formation are classified as
healing by secondary intention. Connective tissue development is
evident during healing by secondary intention. Healing by tertiary
intention occurs when surgical wounds are not closed immediately
,CNST Chapter 40: Wound Care and
Irrigations Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
but are left open for 3 to 5 days to allow edema or infection to
diminish.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a dressing over a surgical
wound created the night before. The dressing has never been
changed. How should the nurse proceed?
a.
Change the dressing so she can assess the wound.
b.
Administer an analgesic 30 to 45 minutes before a dressing change.
c.
Culture the wound if wound exudate is present.
d.
Administer an analgesic 30 minutes after a dressing change. -
correct answer ✅B
To promote patient comfort, administer an analgesic as ordered,
usually 30 to 45 minutes before changing the dressing. However,
you will need to assess to determine the best time for analgesic
administration before providing wound care. Do not remove an
initial surgical dressing for direct wound inspection until a physician
, CNST Chapter 40: Wound Care and
Irrigations Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
writes a medical order for removal. The presence of wound exudate
is an expected stage of epithelial cell growth.
The nurse is in the process of irrigating the wound for a patient who
has a large pressure ulcer on his buttock. How should the nurse
proceed?
a.
Use irrigation pressures of less than 4 psi.
b.
Cleanse in a direction from most contaminated to least
contaminated.
c.
Irrigate so that the solution flows from least contaminated to most
contaminated.
d.
Irrigate with clean irrigation solution only. -
correct answer ✅C
When one is irrigating, all the solution flows from the least
contaminated to the most contaminated area. The pressure needed
to irrigate wounds is between 4 and 15 psi. Irrigating solutions are
sterile.
Irrigations Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
Healing by primary intention is expected to occur with which of the
following situations?
a.
The wound is left open and is allowed to heal.
b.
A surgical wound is left open for 3 to 5 days.
c.
Connective tissue development is evident.
d.
The edges of a clean incision remain close together. -
correct answer ✅D
Healing by primary intention occurs when the edges of a clean
surgical incision remain close together. The wound heals quickly,
and tissue loss is minimal or absent. The skin cells quickly
regenerate, and the capillary walls stretch across under the suture
line to form a smooth surface as they join. Wounds that are left
open and are allowed to heal by scar formation are classified as
healing by secondary intention. Connective tissue development is
evident during healing by secondary intention. Healing by tertiary
intention occurs when surgical wounds are not closed immediately
,CNST Chapter 40: Wound Care and
Irrigations Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
but are left open for 3 to 5 days to allow edema or infection to
diminish.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a dressing over a surgical
wound created the night before. The dressing has never been
changed. How should the nurse proceed?
a.
Change the dressing so she can assess the wound.
b.
Administer an analgesic 30 to 45 minutes before a dressing change.
c.
Culture the wound if wound exudate is present.
d.
Administer an analgesic 30 minutes after a dressing change. -
correct answer ✅B
To promote patient comfort, administer an analgesic as ordered,
usually 30 to 45 minutes before changing the dressing. However,
you will need to assess to determine the best time for analgesic
administration before providing wound care. Do not remove an
initial surgical dressing for direct wound inspection until a physician
, CNST Chapter 40: Wound Care and
Irrigations Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
writes a medical order for removal. The presence of wound exudate
is an expected stage of epithelial cell growth.
The nurse is in the process of irrigating the wound for a patient who
has a large pressure ulcer on his buttock. How should the nurse
proceed?
a.
Use irrigation pressures of less than 4 psi.
b.
Cleanse in a direction from most contaminated to least
contaminated.
c.
Irrigate so that the solution flows from least contaminated to most
contaminated.
d.
Irrigate with clean irrigation solution only. -
correct answer ✅C
When one is irrigating, all the solution flows from the least
contaminated to the most contaminated area. The pressure needed
to irrigate wounds is between 4 and 15 psi. Irrigating solutions are
sterile.
