Wound Care & Dressing Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Wound Care & Dressing Techniques flashcards as text
An LVN is performing a dressing change on a patient with a draining abdominal wound. The patient asks why the nurse is wearing a mask and goggles. The BEST response is:
Answer: 'I wear these to protect myself from splashing wound drainage that could carry infection.'
Eye protection and masks are required when there is risk of splashing body fluids; explaining the rationale accurately respects patient understanding.
Which finding in a pressure injury indicates that it has progressed to an unstageable wound?
Answer: The wound bed is completely covered by eschar or slough obscuring its depth
Unstageable pressure injuries cannot be staged because the wound base is obscured by slough or eschar, making it impossible to assess true depth.
A patient with a surgical wound develops a fever of 38.8°C (101.8°F) on postoperative day 3 with increased wound pain, redness, and purulent drainage. These findings are MOST consistent with:
Answer: Surgical site infection
Fever, increased pain, erythema, and purulent drainage on POD 3 are classic signs of a surgical site infection requiring provider notification.
When packing a deep wound with gauze, the LVN should:
Answer: Lightly pack the wound to gently fill dead space without causing pressure
Wound packing should lightly fill dead space to promote healing from the base up; tight packing restricts blood flow and impairs healing.
A patient is discharged home with wound care instructions. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of signs of wound infection to report?
Answer: 'I should call if I notice increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pus from the wound.'
Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage are classic signs of infection that require prompt medical evaluation.
Which dressing change frequency is most appropriate for a transparent film dressing applied over a clean, low-exudate wound?
Answer: Every 3–7 days or when integrity is compromised
Transparent film dressings can remain in place for 3–7 days unless they become loose, soiled, or the wound condition changes.
A patient with an arterial leg ulcer has a pale, dry wound base with minimal exudate and the leg is cool to touch. The priority nursing action is:
Answer: Assess peripheral pulses and report to the provider before initiating treatment
Arterial ulcers indicate compromised arterial blood flow; assessing peripheral pulses and reporting to the provider is essential before any treatment, as compression is contraindicated.