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Cheat sheet

WCC Cheat Sheet

Practice QuestionsStudy Guide

Assessment

27%of exam

Wound StatusEtiology CluesMeasurementsVascular Checks

Treatment

25%of exam

DressingsDebridementInfectionAdjuncts

Re-Evaluation

16%of exam

Healing TrendPlan ChangeAdherenceEscalation

Education

7%of exam

Teach-BackCaregiver TrainingHealth LiteracyHome Safety

Administration

7%of exam

ProtocolsSuppliesDataCoordination

Legal

6%of exam

ScopeConsentPrivacyDocumentation

Risk + Prevention

12%of exam

Pressure RiskMoistureOffloadingNutrition

Quick Facts

Exam
WCC
Credential
Wound Care Certified
Sponsor
NAWCO
Questions
Up to 110
Scored
100 scored
Time
2 hours
Pass
600 scaled
Scale
100-800
Validity
5 years

Measure Order

LWD keeps wound tracking consistent

LengthWidthDepth

Undermining vs Tunneling

Undermining

  • Under intact edge
  • Shelf-like pocket

Tunneling

  • Narrow tract
  • One direction

Map both by clock

Wound Driver Picker

  1. Over bone→Pressure(Offload first)
  2. Plantar callus→Diabetic(Offload foot)
  3. Gaiter edema→Venous(Check perfusion)
  4. Cool painful foot→Arterial(Vascular referral)
  5. Incision opens→Surgical(Notify surgeon)
  6. Incontinence exposure→Moisture(Barrier plan)
  7. Friable mass→Malignant(Palliate symptoms)
  8. Recent injury→Trauma(Assess depth)

Blueprint Weights

Assessment
27%
Treatment
25%
Re-Evaluation
16%
Prevention
12%
Education
7%
Administration
7%
Legal
6%

PQRST Pain

PQRST structures pain assessment

ProvokesQualityRegionSeverityTiming

Slough vs Eschar

Slough

  • Yellow moist tissue
  • Often stringy

Eschar

  • Black leathery tissue
  • May be stable

Necrosis blocks healing

Wound Status

Length
Head to toe
Width
Side to side
Depth
Deepest point
Undermining
Under intact edge
Tunneling
Narrow tract
Clocking
Head at 12
Epibole
Rolled edge
Maceration
Moisture damage

Arterial vs Venous

Arterial

  • Painful distal wound
  • Cool weak pulses

Venous

  • Edema gaiter wound
  • Heavy drainage

Perfusion before compression

Tissue Types

Epithelial
New pink skin
Granulation
Red bumpy tissue
Hypergranulation
Proud friable tissue
Slough
Yellow devitalized tissue
Eschar
Black leathery tissue
Fibrin
Yellow protein film
Necrosis
Dead tissue

Etiology Clues

Pressure
Bony prominence
Venous
Gaiter edema
Arterial
Distal painful wound
Diabetic
Plantar pressure point
Surgical
Incision separation
Traumatic
Injury history
Malignant
Friable tumor wound
Moisture
Incontinence exposure

Exudate + Odor

Serous
Clear watery
Sanguineous
Fresh blood
Serosanguineous
Pink watery
Purulent
Thick opaque pus
Heavy
Absorption needed
Odor
Assess cause
Maceration
Protect periwound

Vascular Safety

ABI
Screen perfusion
TBI
Toe perfusion
Pulses
Compare bilaterally
Rest pain
Ischemia clue
Cool foot
Arterial concern
Edema
Venous clue
Compression
Needs perfusion
Referral
Vascular red flags

TIME Framework

TIME prepares the wound bed

TissueInfectionMoistureEdge

Infection vs Colonization

Colonization

  • Organisms present
  • No tissue invasion

Infection

  • Host response
  • Treatment escalation

Treat clinical signs

Dressing Picker

  1. Dry wound→Hydrogel(Donate moisture)
  2. Moderate drainage→Foam(Absorb cushion)
  3. Heavy drainage→Alginate(Absorb fluid)
  4. Heavy cavity→Hydrofiber(Pack loosely)
  5. Clean shallow→Hydrocolloid(Occlusive cover)
  6. Fragile skin→Silicone(Atraumatic removal)
  7. Bioburden concern→Silver(Short course)
  8. Odor distress→Charcoal(Control odor)

Dressing Functions

Foam
Moderate exudate
Alginate
Heavy exudate
Hydrofiber
Heavy exudate
Hydrogel
Add moisture
Film
Protection only
Hydrocolloid
Occlusive moisture
Silver
Bioburden control
Charcoal
Odor control

Debridement Methods

Autolytic
Body enzymes
Enzymatic
Topical collagenase
Sharp
Instrument removal
Surgical
Operating room
Mechanical
Physical removal
Biologic
Sterile larvae
Stable eschar
Often leave

Infection + Biofilm

Contamination
Organisms present
Colonization
No tissue invasion
Biofilm
Protected microbes
Local infection
Tissue signs
Cellulitis
Spreading erythema
Systemic signs
Urgent escalation
Culture
After cleansing
Osteomyelitis
Probe-to-bone concern

Escalation Picker

  1. Spreading redness→Notify provider(Infection risk)
  2. Fever present→Urgent evaluation(Systemic signs)
  3. Visible bone→Osteomyelitis workup(Probe concern)
  4. Bowel visible→Surgical emergency(Moist cover)
  5. No progress→Full reassessment(Find barrier)
  6. New ischemia→Vascular referral(Avoid compression)
  7. Supply failure→Care coordination(Admin issue)
  8. Cannot demonstrate→Teach-back(Education gap)

Reevaluation Signals

Size trend
Weekly comparison
Tissue trend
Bed quality
Drainage trend
Moisture control
Pain trend
Tolerance signal
Adherence
Plan reality
Barriers
Why stalled
No progress
Reassess cause
Referral
Escalate complexity

Teach-Back Loop

Show, say, return, document

ShowSayReturnDocument

Education vs Administration

Education

  • Teach patient
  • Verify understanding

Administration

  • Coordinate resources
  • Align protocols

Teaching needs systems

Scope vs Certification

Scope

  • License limits
  • Policy controls

Certification

  • Specialty credential
  • No new license

License still rules

Exam Logistics

Items
Up to 110
Scored
100 items
Pretest
10 hidden
Time
2 hours
Pass
600 scaled
Curve
Not used
Provider
Prometric
Credential
5 years

Prevention Basics

Braden
Pressure risk
Turn schedule
Pressure relief
Support surface
Redistribute pressure
Heel float
Offload heels
Moisture barrier
Protect skin
Nutrition
Protein calories
Foot checks
Diabetes prevention
Compression use
Venous recurrence

Common Traps

Stable Eschar

Stable heel eschar ≠ Automatic debridement

Compression Safety

Adequate perfusion first ≠ Every leg wound

WCC Scope

Credential supports expertise ≠ Credential expands license

Scaled Score

600 scaled pass ≠ Raw percentage pass

Teaching Proof

Teach-back verifies ≠ Handout proves understanding

Product First

Treat cause ≠ Pick dressing only

Last Minute

  1. 1.Assessment drives treatment choice
  2. 2.Measure length width depth
  3. 3.Head equals 12 oclock
  4. 4.Perfusion before compression
  5. 5.Offload pressure wounds first
  6. 6.Stable heel eschar stays
  7. 7.Spreading erythema needs escalation
  8. 8.Teach-back beats handouts
  9. 9.Scope remains license-bound
  10. 10.600 scaled, not curved

NAWCO WCC Wound Care Certified

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