A nurse is assessing a client who has a pressure injury. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect as an indication the wound is healing?

Pressure injuries heal through a structured process involving inflammation, tissue formation, and remodeling. Healthy wound healing is characterized by the development of granulation tissue, which reflects new capillary growth and connective tissue formation. Nurses assess wound characteristics such as color, exudate, and tissue quality to determine healing progress. Recognizing normal healing signs helps guide appropriate wound care interventions and evaluate treatment effectiveness. A. Light yellow exudate may indicate normal or abnormal wound drainage depending on its consistency and odor. While small amounts of serous drainage can be part of healing, yellow exudate may also suggest infection if thick or purulent. Therefore, it is not a reliable indicator of healthy healing. B. Wound tissue that is firm to palpation is not a typical characteristic of healing pressure injuries. Healthy granulation tissue is usually moist, soft, and highly vascular. Firm tissue may indicate fibrosis or scar formation rather than active healing. C. Dry brown eschar represents necrotic tissue and indicates nonviable tissue within the wound bed. Eschar must often be debrided for healing to progress, especially in stage III and IV pressure injuries. Its presence suggests impaired or stalled healing rather than improvement. D. Dark red granulation tissue is a positive sign of wound healing because it indicates the formation of new capillaries and connective tissue. This tissue is moist, bumpy, and highly vascular, reflecting active repair and regeneration of the wound bed. Its presence demonstrates that the pressure injury is progressing through the normal healing process.