SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Surgical Wound Dressing/Surgical Wound Dressing Cumulative Assessment

▼This page is a part of the Perioperative Nursing Curriculum by ECSACONM and SELFPlease see the Intuitive Foundation Terms of Use and do not edit without permission.

Use the quiz below to check your understanding of the material.

Instructions

Work through each question carefully to choose the best answer, and submit the quiz to view your results. After completing the quiz, read through the answer explanations to review the reasoning behind both correct and incorrect options.

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Before beginning a routine postoperative dressing change, which finding best indicates that the procedure may proceed as planned?

	The incision has well-approximated wound edges with minimal serosanguinous drainage
	The incision has thick purulent drainage and increasing redness extending into the surrounding skin
	The wound edges have separated, exposing deeper tissue
	Bright red bleeding continues despite gentle pressure

Which action best demonstrates the correct use of the two-forceps non-touch technique?

	Using one forceps to remove the old dressing and then using the same forceps to position the new sterile dressing
	Alternating the clean and dirty forceps after wound cleansing is complete
	Holding both forceps together between cleansing passes to improve efficiency
	Reserving the clean forceps for sterile materials while using the dirty forceps only for contaminated items

Why should a new sterile swab be used for each cleansing pass during wound cleansing?

	It reduces the amount of cleansing solution needed
	It prevents microorganisms removed during one pass from being transferred back across the wound
	It makes the dressing change faster to perform
	It allows the wound to dry more quickly

During a dressing change, the clean forceps accidentally touch the patient's bed linen. What is the most appropriate response?

	Continue because the sterile dressing has not yet contacted the wound
	Wipe the forceps with sterile saline before continuing
	Replace the contaminated forceps with a sterile pair before proceeding
	Continue if only the handle contacted the bed linen

Which observation should prompt the nurse to stop routine wound care and seek further medical evaluation?

	Mild bruising adjacent to the incision
	A small amount of serosanguinous drainage on the removed dressing
	Well-approximated wound edges with minimal swelling
	Increasing wound separation with purulent drainage

Which statement best describes the primary purpose of wound assessment before cleansing begins?

	To estimate how many sterile swabs will be needed
	To determine whether routine postoperative wound care remains appropriate
	To determine which type of dressing adhesive should be selected
	To reduce the amount of documentation required after the procedure

Which documentation entry best reflects appropriate postoperative wound documentation?

	"The wound appears much improved today."
	"Healing normally."
	"Incision well approximated with minimal serosanguinous drainage. Sterile dressing applied. Patient tolerated the procedure well."
	"No concerns noted."

Which instruction should the nurse provide before the patient leaves the postoperative care area?

	Remove the dressing every day to inspect the incision
	Replace the dressing whenever it feels uncomfortable
	Keep the dressing clean and dry, and seek medical attention if increasing redness, wound separation, purulent drainage, fever, or uncontrolled bleeding develops
	Clean the wound with tap water whenever drainage appears

Which action represents a break in aseptic technique during wound cleansing?

	Discarding each swab after a single cleansing pass
	Using the clean forceps to position the sterile dressing
	Applying the dressing with minimal handling
	Reusing the same swab for multiple cleansing passes

After completing a routine postoperative dressing change, which sequence best supports safe continuity of care?

	Confirm the patient's comfort, remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, document the procedure, provide patient education, and communicate relevant information during handover if required
	Document the procedure before confirming that the patient is comfortable
	Leave the room after securing the dressing because the procedure is complete
	Remove the dressing to verify the wound one final time before leaving

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Page data
Part of	Wound Dressing - ECSACONM
Keywords	surgery, health
SDG	SDG03 Good health and well-being
Authors	Ian-laurel
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Organizations	ECSACONM, SELF
Language	English (en)
Related	0 subpages, 1 pages link here
Views	0 page views (analytics)
Created	July 30, 2026 by Ian-laurel-1
Last edit	July 30, 2026 by StandardWikitext bot
Cite as	Ian-laurel-1 (2026). "SELF/Perioperative Nursing/Surgical Wound Dressing/Surgical Wound Dressing Cumulative Assessment". Appropedia. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
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