A 28-year-old male patient at your clinic reports a minor motorcycle accident that occurred 5 days ago, resulting in several scrapes and wounds. The wound on his calf has a pinkish-red center area that appears bumpy. What does this indicate about the wound?

Choice A rationale
Stage 1 wounds are characterized by non-blanchable redness of intact skin. The presence of partial-thickness skin loss indicates that the wound has progressed beyond stage 1, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B rationale
Stage 2 wounds involve partial-thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed, without slough. This description matches the nurse’s assessment of the patient’s wound, confirming that it is indeed a stage 2 wound.

Choice C rationale
Stage 3 wounds exhibit full-thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed. The patient’s wound, with partial-thickness skin loss and no mention of exposed subcutaneous structures, does not fit the criteria for stage 3.

Choice D rationale
Stage 4 wounds involve full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present on some parts of the wound bed. The patient’s wound does not have these characteristics, ruling out stage 4.

Choice A rationale

Filling the pack and refreezing it is part of preparing the ice pack but not a necessary step in the application process itself.

Choice B rationale

Covering the pack with plastic wrap is not recommended as it could potentially cause harm by trapping the cold and leading to frostbite.

Choice C rationale

Using a light cover, such as a thin towel, over the ice pack is necessary to protect the skin while still allowing the cold to reach the injured area effectively.

Choice D rationale

Using small ice cubes is a method to create an ice pack but does not pertain to the application process on the skin.