Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) Practice Test

What is a common complication associated with wet to dry dressings?

1. Increased wound healing

2. Reduction in pain

3. Potential for bleeding

4. Neutralization of infection

The correct answer is: Potential for bleeding

The selection of potential for bleeding as a common complication associated with wet to dry dressings is accurate because the method involves applying moist gauze to a wound and allowing it to dry out before removal. This process can create adhesion between the dressing and the wound tissue. When the dressing is removed, it can inadvertently disrupt newly formed granulation tissue or even healthy tissue, leading to bleeding. While wet to dry dressings can have benefits for certain types of wounds, they may also contribute to trauma upon removal, especially if the wound is in a fragile healing state. This complication underscores the importance of assessing wound characteristics and considering alternative dressing methods that may offer better protection and more effective healing. In contrast, the other choices reflect outcomes that do not necessarily occur with wet to dry dressings. For instance, while some may assume that wet to dry dressings would enhance wound healing due to moisture, they can actually lead to increased pain and trauma during dressing changes, rather than a reduction in pain. Additionally, these dressings are not typically associated with the neutralization of infection; they primarily provide mechanical debridement but do not have intrinsic antibacterial properties that would help in managing infections.