10 free, exam-style Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CWS practice test to study every exam domain.
These 10 free CWS questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Wound Specialist blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
A chronic wound has remained the same size for several weeks. On a cellular level, the wound is characterized by elevated protease (matrix metalloproteinase) activity, persistent neutrophils, and senescent cells that fail to respond to growth factors. This wound is most likely stalled in which phase of wound healing?
Correct answer: B - Inflammation
A nurse assesses a sacral wound with full-thickness skin loss. Adipose tissue is clearly visible in the wound bed, and there is rolled epibole at the edges, but no muscle, tendon, or bone is exposed or palpable. A small amount of slough is present but does not obscure the depth of the wound. Using NPIAP staging, this wound is correctly classified as:
Correct answer: A - Stage 3 pressure injury
A patient with a lower extremity ulcer has an ankle systolic pressure of 80 mmHg and a brachial systolic pressure of 100 mmHg. The clinician calculates the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and interprets the result. Which value and interpretation are correct?
Correct answer: B - 0.80 - consistent with peripheral arterial disease
During a wound assessment, the clinician documents the tissue in the wound bed as yellow, stringy, soft, and adherent to the wound surface. Which term most accurately describes this tissue?
Correct answer: A - Slough
A patient presents with a deep cavity wound that has heavy serosanguineous exudate and areas of soft yellow slough in the wound bed. There are no signs of infection. Which dressing is the most appropriate primary choice to manage exudate and support autolytic debridement?
Correct answer: C - Calcium alginate
A patient with documented peripheral arterial disease has a stable, dry, intact eschar covering the heel. The wound is non-fluctuant, non-erythematous, and has no drainage or odor. What is the most appropriate management of this eschar?
Correct answer: A - Leave the eschar intact and monitor it
A patient with a venous leg ulcer is being evaluated for compression therapy. Their ankle-brachial index is 0.45. Based on this finding, the most appropriate action regarding compression is to:
Correct answer: C - Withhold compression and pursue vascular evaluation
A clinician evaluates a painful lower extremity ulcer located on the lateral malleolus. The wound has a round, well-demarcated 'punched-out' border, a dry pale base with minimal exudate, and the surrounding skin is shiny and hairless. Pedal pulses are diminished. This presentation is most characteristic of which ulcer etiology?
Correct answer: B - Arterial (ischemic) ulcer
A patient with diabetes has a plantar foot ulcer that, on probing, extends deep to the underlying bone, and imaging confirms osteomyelitis. According to the Wagner classification system, this ulcer is graded as:
Correct answer: C - Grade 3
A terminally ill hospice patient has a non-healing full-thickness pressure injury. The patient and family state that comfort is the priority, and declining perfusion makes complete wound closure unrealistic. Which approach best reflects appropriate, ethical wound care?
Correct answer: A - Stabilize the wound, prioritizing comfort, odor, and exudate control
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