Which of the following is NOT a stage classification for pressure injuries?

Which of the following is NOT a stage classification for pressure injuries?

• A. Stage I
• B. Stage II
• C. Stage III
• D. Stage V

Answer: (D)

The concept tested is recognizing the official staging used for pressure injuries. In current practice, pressure injuries are classified into four defined stages that reflect depth of tissue loss. Stage I is non-blanchable redness of intact skin; Stage II is partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis; Stage III is full-thickness skin loss with exposed subcutaneous tissue; Stage IV is full-thickness loss with exposure of bone, tendon, or muscle and may include undermining or tunneling. There is no Stage V in this system. Some wounds may be unstageable due to slough or eschar or may be categorized as a suspected deep tissue injury, but these are separate from the four-stage framework. Therefore, Stage V is not a recognized stage.

The concept tested is recognizing the official staging used for pressure injuries. In current practice, pressure injuries are classified into four defined stages that reflect depth of tissue loss. Stage I is non-blanchable redness of intact skin; Stage II is partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis; Stage III is full-thickness skin loss with exposed subcutaneous tissue; Stage IV is full-thickness loss with exposure of bone, tendon, or muscle and may include undermining or tunneling. There is no Stage V in this system. Some wounds may be unstageable due to slough or eschar or may be categorized as a suspected deep tissue injury, but these are separate from the four-stage framework. Therefore, Stage V is not a recognized stage.