Chapter 11 - Inflammation and Wound Healing

The nurse will perform which action when doing a wet-to-dry dressing change on a patient's stage III sacral pressure ulcer?

*a. Administer prescribed PRN hydrocodone 30 minutes before the change.* b. Pour sterile saline onto the new dry dressings after the wound has been packed. c. Apply antimicrobial ointment before repacking the wound with moist dressings. d. Soak the old dressings with sterile saline 30 minutes before the dressing change *Rationale* Mechanical debridement with wet-to-dry dressings is painful, and patients should receive pain medications before the dressing change begins. The new dressings are moistened with saline before being applied to the wound but not soaked after packing. Soaking the old dressings before removing them will eliminate the wound debridement that is the purpose of this type of dressing. Application of antimicrobial ointments is not indicated for a wet-to-dry dressing.

The nurse should plan to use a wet-to-dry dressing for which patient?

a. A patient who has a pressure ulcer with pink granulation tissue b. A patient who has a surgical incision with pink, approximated edges c. A patient who has a full-thickness burn filled with dry, black material *d. A patient who has a wound with purulent drainage and dry brown areas* *Rationale* Wet-to-dry dressings are used when there is minimal eschar to be removed. A full-thickness wound filled with eschar will require interventions such as surgical debridement to remove the necrotic tissue. Wet-to-dry dressings are not needed on approximated surgical incisions. Wet-to-dry dressings are not used on uninfected granulating wounds because of the damage to the granulation tissue.

The nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes who had abdominal surgery 3 days ago. Which finding is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?

a. Blood glucose of 136 mg/dL b. Oral temperature of 101° F (38.3° C) *c. Separation of the proximal wound edges* d. Patient complaint of increased incisional pain *Rationale* Wound separation 3 days postoperatively indicates possible wound dehiscence and should be immediately reported to the health care provider. The other findings will also be reported but do not require intervention as rapidly.

A young male patient with paraplegia has a stage II sacral pressure ulcer and is being cared for at home by his family. To prevent further tissue damage, what instructions are most important for the nurse to teach the patient and family?

a. Change the patient's bedding frequently. b. Apply a hydrocolloid dressing over the ulcer. *c. Change the patient's position every 1 to 2 hours.* d. Record the size and appearance of the ulcer weekly. *Rationale* The most important intervention is to avoid prolonged pressure on bony prominences by frequent repositioning. The other interventions may also be included in family teaching.

After receiving a change-of-shift report, which patient should the nurse assess first?

a. The patient who has multiple leg wounds with eschar to be debrided *b. The patient receiving chemotherapy who has a temperature of 102° F* c. The patient who requires analgesics before a scheduled dressing change d. The newly admitted patient with a stage IV pressure ulcer on the coccyx *Rationale* Chemotherapy is an immunosuppressant. Even a low fever in an immunosuppressed patient is a sign of serious infection and should be treated immediately with cultures and rapid initiation of antibiotic therapy. The nurse should assess the other patients as soon as possible after assessing and implementing appropriate care for the immunosuppressed patient.

The nurse notes that a patient's open abdominal wound widens as it extends deeper into the abdomen. How would the nurse document this characteristic?

a. eschar b. slough c. maceration *d. undermining* *Rationale* Undermining is evident when a cotton-tipped applicator is placed in the wound and there is a narrower "lip" around the wound, which widens as the wound deepens. Eschar is a crusted cover over a wound. Slough and maceration refer to loosening friable tissue.

Which finding is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider when caring for a patient who is receiving negative-pressure wound therapy?

*a. Low serum albumin level* b. Serosanguineous drainage c. Deep red and moist wound bed d. Cobblestone appearance of wound *Rationale* With negative pressure therapy, serum protein levels may decrease, which will adversely affect wound healing. The other findings are expected with wound healing.

A patient who has diabetes is admitted for an exploratory laparotomy for abdominal pain. When planning interventions to promote wound healing, what is the nurse's highest priority?

*a. Maintaining the patient's blood glucose within a normal range* b. Ensuring that the patient has an adequate dietary protein intake c. Giving antipyretics to keep the temperature less than 102° F (38.9° C) d. Redressing the surgical incision with a dry, sterile dressing twice daily *Rationale* Elevated blood glucose will have an impact on multiple factors involved in wound healing. Ensuring adequate nutrition is also important for the postoperative patient, but a higher priority is blood glucose control. A temperature of 102° F will not impact adversely on wound healing, although the nurse may administer antipyretics if the patient is uncomfortable. Application of a dry, sterile dressing daily may be ordered, but frequent dressing changes for a wound healing by primary intention is not necessary to promote wound healing.

A new nurse performs a dressing change on a stage II left heel pressure ulcer. Which action by the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching about pressure ulcer care?

*a. The new nurse cleans the ulcer with half-strength peroxide.* b. The new nurse uses a hydrocolloid dressing (DuoDerm) on the ulcer. c. The new nurse irrigates the pressure ulcer with saline using a 30-mL syringe. d. The new nurse inserts a sterile cotton-tipped applicator into the pressure ulcer. *Rationale* Pressure ulcers should not be cleaned with solutions that are cytotoxic, such as hydrogen peroxide. The other actions by the new nurse are appropriate.

A patient from a long-term care facility is admitted to the hospital with a sacral pressure ulcer. The base of the wound involves subcutaneous tissue. How should the nurse classify this pressure ulcer?

a. Stage I b. Stage II *c. Stage III* d. Stage IV *Rationale* A stage III pressure ulcer has full-thickness skin damage and extends into the subcutaneous tissue. A stage I pressure ulcer has intact skin with some observable damage such as redness or a boggy feel. Stage II pressure ulcers have partial-thickness skin loss. Stage IV pressure ulcers have full-thickness damage with tissue necrosis, extensive damage, or damage to bone, muscle, or supporting tissues.

After the home health nurse teaches a patient's family member about how to care for a sacral pressure ulcer, which finding indicates that additional teaching is needed?

a. The family member uses a lift sheet to reposition the patient. b. The family member uses clean tap water to clean the wound. *c. The family member dries the wound using a hair dryer on a low setting.* d. The family member places contaminated dressings in a plastic grocery bag. *Rationale* Pressure ulcers need to be kept moist to facilitate wound healing. The other actions indicate a good understanding of pressure ulcer care.

When admitting a patient with stage III pressure ulcers on both heels, which information obtained by the nurse will have the most impact on wound healing?

a. The patient has had the heel ulcers for 6 months. *b. The patient takes oral hypoglycemic agents daily.* c. The patient states that the ulcers are very painful. d. The patient has several incisions that formed keloids. *Rationale* The use of oral hypoglycemics indicates diabetes, which can interfere with wound healing. The persistence of the ulcers over the past 6 months is a concern, but changes in care may be effective in promoting healing. Keloids are not disabling or painful, although the cosmetic effects may be distressing for some patients. Actions to reduce the patient's pain will be implemented, but pain does not directly affect wound healing.

The nurse could delegate care of which patient to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

a. The patient who reports increased tenderness and swelling around a leg wound b. The patient who was just admitted after suturing of a full-thickness arm wound c. The patient who needs teaching about home care for a draining abdominal wound *d. The patient who requires a hydrocolloid dressing change for a stage III sacral ulcer* *Rationale* LPN/LVN education and scope of practice include sterile dressing changes for stable patients. Initial wound assessments, patient teaching, and evaluation for possible poor wound healing or infection should be done by the registered nurse (RN).

A young adult patient who is receiving antibiotics for an infected leg wound has a temperature of 101.8° F (38.7° C). The patient reports having no discomfort. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

a. apply a cooling blanket b. notify the healthcare provider *c. check the patient's temperature again in 4 hours* d. give acetaminophen (Tylenol) prescribed PRN for pain *Rationale* Mild to moderate temperature elevations (<103° F) do not harm young adult patients and may benefit host defense mechanisms. The nurse should continue to monitor the temperature. Antipyretics are not indicated unless the patient is complaining of fever-related symptoms, and the patient does not require analgesics if not reporting discomfort. There is no need to notify the patient's health care provider or to use a cooling blanket for a moderate temperature elevation.

A patient's 4x3 cm leg wound has a 0.4-cm black area in the center of the wound surrounded by yellow-green semiliquid material. Which dressing should the nurse apply to the wound?

a. dry gauze dressing b. non-adherent dressing *c. hydrocolloid dressing* d. transparent film dressing *Rationale* The wound requires debridement of the necrotic areas and absorption of the yellow-green slough. A hydrocolloid dressing such as DuoDerm would accomplish these goals. Transparent film dressings are used for clean wounds or approximated surgical incisions. Dry dressings will not debride the necrotic areas. Nonadherent dressings will not absorb wound drainage or debride the wound.

A patient with *rheumatoid arthritis* has been taking oral corticosteroids for 2 years. Which nursing action is most likely to detect early signs of infection in this patient?

a. monitor white blood cell counts b. check the skin for areas of redness c. measure the temperature every 2 hours *d. ask about feelings of fatigue or malaise* *Rationale* The earliest manifestation of an infection may be "just not feeling well." Common clinical manifestations of inflammation and infection are frequently not present when patients receive immunosuppressive medications.

The nurse assesses a patient's surgical wound on the first postoperative day and notes redness and warmth around the incision. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

a. obtain wound cultures *b. document the assessment* c. notify the healthcare provider d. assess the wound every 2 hours *Rationale* The incisional redness and warmth are indicators of the normal initial (inflammatory) stage of wound healing by primary intention. The nurse should document the wound appearance and continue to monitor the wound. Notification of the health care provider, assessment every 2 hours, and obtaining wound cultures are not indicated because the healing is progressing normally.

A patient with a systemic bacterial infection feels cold and has a shaking chill. Which assessment finding will the nurse expect next?

a. skin flushing b. muscle cramps *c. rising body temperature* d. decreasing blood pressure *Rationale* The patient's complaints of feeling cold and shivering indicate that the hypothalamic set point for temperature has been increased and the temperature is increasing. Because associated peripheral vasoconstriction and sympathetic nervous system stimulation will occur, skin flushing and hypotension are not expected. Muscle cramps are not expected with chills and shivering or with a rising temperature.

A patient arrives in the emergency department with a swollen ankle after a soccer injury. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

*a. Elevate the ankle above heart level.* b. Apply a warm moist pack to the ankle. c. Ask the patient to try bearing weight on the ankle. d. Assess the ankle's passive range of motion (ROM). *Rationale* Soft tissue injuries are treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Elevation of the ankle will decrease tissue swelling. Moving the ankle through the ROM will increase swelling and risk further injury. Cold packs should be applied the first 24 hours to reduce swelling. The nurse should not ask the patient to move or bear weight on the swollen ankle because immobilization of the inflamed or injured area promotes healing by decreasing metabolic needs of the tissues.

A patient with an open leg lesion has a white blood cell (WBC) count of 13,500/µL and a band count of 11%. What prescribed action should the nurse take first?

*a. obtain cultures of the wound* b. begin antibiotic administration c. continue to monitor the wound for drainage d. redress the wound with wet-to-dry dressings *Rationale* The increase in WBC count with the increased bands (shift to the left) indicates that the patient probably has a bacterial infection, and the nurse should obtain wound cultures. Antibiotic therapy and/or dressing changes may be started, but cultures should be done first. The nurse will continue to monitor the wound, but additional actions are needed as well.