Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) Practice Test

What is a primary issue with air fluidized therapy?

1. High cost of equipment

2. Difficulty in maintaining head elevation

3. Lack of patient comfort

4. Excessive noise levels

The correct answer is: Difficulty in maintaining head elevation

Air fluidized therapy is primarily designed to manage and treat patients with pressure ulcers and at risk for skin breakdown by utilizing a specialized bed that creates a fluid-like medium of warm air and small granules. This helps to reduce pressure on the skin and enhances circulation, ultimately promoting healing. The challenge associated with maintaining head elevation while using an air fluidized bed arises because the design of these beds typically allows for minimal adjustment of the patient's position due to the need to maintain the effectiveness of the air fluidized feature. When head elevation is required for medical reasons, such as respiratory issues or swallowing difficulties, the fluid-like nature of the bed makes it difficult to achieve and sustain this positioning safely and effectively. This can pose risks of further complications or discomfort for patients who need to maintain a specific posture. Other factors, while noteworthy, do not directly address the primary operational constraints associated with the therapeutic benefits of air fluidized therapy. High equipment costs, patient comfort, and noise levels may be considerations in the overall assessment of the therapy but do not encapsulate the core functional issue relating to patient positioning that is critical for optimal clinical management. Thus, the difficulty in maintaining head elevation stands out as the most significant issue with this treatment modality.