Which statement describes when to perform a wound assessment?

Which statement describes when to perform a wound assessment?

• A. Only document wounds if they are healing well.
• B. Perform wound assessment monthly.
• C. On admission and with any change in condition or new wound; document size, depth, and drainage.
• D. Wound assessment is unnecessary if patient is in stable condition.

Answer: (C)

Assessing wounds whenever a patient is admitted or when there’s a change in condition or a new wound is present is essential because it creates a current, objective snapshot of the wound’s status. Documenting size, depth, and drainage provides measurable data that can be tracked over time, helping to determine whether healing is progressing, plateauing, or deteriorating, and it guides treatment decisions and adjustments.

Starting with a baseline on admission sets a reference point for all future comparisons. Any new wound or change in condition—like increased drainage, new necrotic tissue, or a growing wound—signals the need to reassess promptly. Relying on infrequent or absent documentation can delay recognition of infection, decompensation, or improved healing, which can affect outcomes.

The other ideas are not appropriate because they either delay or omit critical monitoring. Documenting only if wounds are healing well ignores wounds that are not healing or are getting worse, missing important changes. Assessing wounds monthly could miss rapid shifts in condition or drainage, and treating a stable patient as if no wound assessment is needed risks overlooking evolving issues. Even in a stable patient, wounds can change, so ongoing, timely assessment is important.