Which statement about postoperative patient education regarding wound care is true?

• A. Wound care is only necessary during the first 24 hours
• B. Pain control is not an education topic
• C. Wound care, signs of infection, and when to seek care should be included in teaching
• D. Follow-up plan is optional

Answer: (C)

Postoperative education should equip patients with practical wound care steps, what signs of infection to monitor, and when to seek care. Clear instructions on how to care for the wound, keep the area clean, when to change dressings, and how to perform basic monitoring help prevent infection and promote proper healing. Teaching patients to recognize signs of infection—such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling, foul drainage, fever, or escalating pain—and to know exactly when to contact a clinician or seek urgent care is essential for timely intervention and safer recovery. A plan for follow-up is also important so healing can be assessed and any complications addressed early.

Wound care isn’t limited to a brief window after surgery, and pain control is indeed an important topic to cover as part of overall recovery education. The follow-up plan isn’t optional, as timely assessment helps ensure wounds are healing properly and instructions are effective.