CERTIFIED WOUND CARE NURSE (CWCN) CERTIFICATION EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE - 120 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES Question 1 Which phase of wound healing is characterized by hemostasis and inflammation, typically lasting 0-4 days? A. Proliferation phase B. Maturation phase C. Inflammatory phase D. Remodeling phase Correct Answer>>C Rationale: The inflammatory phase begins immediately after injury with vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation, platelet aggregation, and neutrophil migration. It typically lasts 0-4 days and is essential for preparing the wound bed for subsequent healing phases. Key Tip: Remember "HIF" for healing phases: Hemostasis/Inflammatory (days 0-4), Fibroblastic/Proliferation (days 2-24), and Final/Remodeling (weeks to months). Question 2 During the proliferation phase of wound healing, which cell type is primarily responsible for collagen synthesis? A. Neutrophils B. MacrophagesC. Fibroblasts D. Keratinocytes Correct Answer>>C Rationale: Fibroblasts are the key cells in the proliferation phase, migrating into the wound and synthesizing collagen and extracellular matrix. They begin appearing around day 3-4 and peak during the proliferative phase. Key Tip: Fibroblasts = "fiber builders" - they build the collagen framework for wound healing. Question 3 A wound that fails to progress through the normal healing sequence and remains in the inflammatory phase for an extended period