Which option correctly lists the four phases of wound healing and includes a nursing intervention to promote healing?

• A. Hemostasis/inflammation, proliferation, remodeling; intervention: maintain clean wound environment and prevent infection.
• B. Inflammation, angiogenesis, maturation, scarring; intervention: elevate the limb and promote rest.
• C. Coagulation, inflammation, proliferation, fibrosis; intervention: apply heat and massage to the wound area.
• D. Hemostasis, proliferation, remodeling, development; intervention: daily debridement and cleansing.

Answer: (A)

Wound healing follows four stages: hemostasis to stop bleeding, inflammation to remove debris and fight infection, proliferation to form new tissue and cover the wound, and remodeling (maturation) to realign collagen and gain strength. The option presented lists Hemostasis/inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, which together cover all four phases, with the first part effectively naming two stages in order. The nursing intervention offered—keeping the wound environment clean and preventing infection—directly supports healing throughout all phases, especially during inflammation when infection risk is highest and during proliferation when new tissue is forming. It also helps minimize bioburden, promotes proper dressing care, and reduces complications.

Other options mix terms that aren’t standard phase names (like angiogenesis or scarring as separate phases, or fibrosis) or suggest interventions that are not typically used to promote healing (such as applying heat, massage, or daily aggressive debridement). Those choices don’t align with the established sequence of wound-healing phases or with best-practice nursing care to support recovery.