CWCA Pain Management in Wound Care Flashcards

Which statement best reflects current evidence on the relationship between uncontrolled wound pain and healing outcomes?

Answer: Uncontrolled pain can increase stress hormones and impair wound healing

Chronic uncontrolled pain elevates cortisol and catecholamines, which suppress immune function and vasoconstriction, negatively affecting wound healing.

A wound care nurse notices a patient becomes increasingly anxious before dressing changes. The best initial intervention is:

Answer: Educate the patient on the procedure and allow them to participate in care decisions

Involving patients in care decisions and explaining procedures reduces anticipatory anxiety, which lowers perceived pain during wound care.

Which type of wound is most commonly associated with ischemic pain that worsens with leg elevation?

Answer: Arterial (ischemic) ulcer

Arterial ulcers produce ischemic rest pain that worsens with leg elevation because it reduces already compromised arterial perfusion.

Capsaicin cream is used in wound-related pain management primarily to:

Answer: Deplete substance P and reduce neuropathic pain

Capsaicin depletes substance P from peripheral nerve endings, reducing transmission of neuropathic pain signals over repeated applications.

When using the FLACC scale for pediatric wound pain assessment, the 'L' stands for:

Answer: Legs

FLACC stands for Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability — a behavioral pain scale used for non-verbal or pediatric patients.

Which wound type is typically described as the MOST painful by patients and requires aggressive analgesic management?

Answer: Partial-thickness burn

Partial-thickness burns expose numerous intact nerve endings in the dermis, making them among the most painful wound types.