What are the main phases of wound healing, and name one nursing action to support healing?

• A. Inflammatory, proliferative, remodeling; maintain moist wound environment and adequate nutrition
• B. Inflammatory, remodeling, proliferative
• C. Proliferative, inflammatory, cicatrization; apply tight dressings
• D. Remodeling, inflammatory, hemostasis; avoid moisture

Answer: (A)

Wound healing happens in stages that follow a specific order: inflammatory first, then proliferative, and finally remodeling. Inflammatory phase is the immediate response to injury, with clotting and immune cells working to stop bleeding and fight infection. The proliferative phase then builds new tissue, with fibroblasts making collagen, new blood vessels forming, and granulation tissue developing. Remodeling (or maturation) phase comes later, where the collagen is reorganized and the tissue gains strength over time. A nursing action that supports healing is maintaining a moist wound environment while ensuring adequate nutrition, because moisture helps cells migrate and function and proper nutrition provides the proteins, vitamins, and minerals needed for collagen synthesis and immune defense.