A nurse is caring for a patient admitted with an infected pressure injury that has purulent drainage. When explaining the purpose of wound dressings to a nursing student, the nurse describes the three basic categories of primary dressings. Which statement best explains why dressing type selection matters for wound healing?
- Dressings that add moisture are always preferred because dry wounds heal more slowly than any other wound type.
- All wound dressings serve the same function and can be interchanged based on availability.
- Dressing selection should be based on the specific characteristics of the patient's wound to promote optimal healing.
- Only a physician can determine the appropriate dressing type; nurses have no role in this decision.