CPNRE Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Ace Your Canadian Practical Nurse Registration!

The correct answer highlights that stage 3 pressure ulcers are characterized by full-thickness tissue loss, which means the damage extends through the entire dermis and into the subcutaneous tissue. In this stage, you can see visible fat, though muscle, tendon, or bone is not exposed. This stage indicates a significant level of tissue damage, and it's crucial for nursing staff to assess and care for these ulcers appropriately to promote healing and prevent further complications.

In contrast, stage 1 pressure ulcers exhibit intact skin with non-blanchable redness, indicating that there is potential damage starting in the epidermal layer. Stage 2 involves partial thickness loss of the dermis, presenting as a shallow open ulcer, without visible fat. Stage 4 pressure ulcers signify even more severe damage, where there is full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Understanding these stages helps nursing professionals provide suitable interventions based on the level of tissue damage.