What is the first phase in wound healing?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Hemostasis is the immediate, first response to tissue injury, beginning seconds after the wound occurs.
Its primary goal is to achieve hemostasis, or the cessation of bleeding.
This is accomplished through two main actions: vasoconstriction (the narrowing of injured blood vessels) and the formation of a platelet plug.
A fibrin clot is then formed, which provides a temporary seal for the wound and serves as a scaffold for the subsequent phases of healing.

Option A: The Maturation phase is the final stage of wound healing, not the first. It focuses on remodeling the scar tissue to increase its strength.
Option B: The Inflammatory phase is the second stage of wound healing. It begins after hemostasis is achieved and involves cleaning the wound of debris and bacteria.
Option C: The Proliferative phase is the third stage, where the focus is on filling the wound with new tissue (granulation) and covering it with new skin (epithelialization).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Phases of wound healing helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the phases of wound healing is crucial for nurses to assess wound progression accurately and select the most appropriate dressings and interventions for each stage.
For example, during the inflammatory phase, a nurse monitors for signs of infection, whereas during the proliferative phase, the focus shifts to protecting fragile new tissue.
Knowledge of these phases helps in identifying factors that can delay healing, such as poor nutrition (affecting proliferation) or infection (prolonging inflammation).

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests knowledge of a fundamental physiological process.
First, identify the keywords in the question: 'first phase' and 'wound healing'.
Mentally list the chronological order of the four main phases of wound healing: 1. Hemostasis, 2. Inflammation, 3. Proliferation, 4. Maturation/Remodeling.
Compare this sequence to the given options.
Select the option that corresponds to the initial step in the process, which is the body's immediate attempt to stop bleeding.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 6 p. 74-76

E6 Pathology-Textbook of PATHOLOGYHarsh Mohan Part 1 (1-214) p. 135-137

E6 PATHOLOGY QUICK REVIEWBased on Harsh Mohan Textbook of PATHOLOGY p. 40-42

Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.