Question 1

When a breastfeeding mother is diagnosed with a breast abscess, which of these instructions from the nurse is correct? The mother needs to:

Accepted Answer

A) Continue to nurse on both sides to encourage milk flow. 
B) Immediately discontinue nursing to allow for healing. 
C) Temporarily discontinue nursing on the affected breast, and manually express milk and discard it. 
D) Temporarily discontinue nursing on affected breast but manually express milk and give it to the baby.

Question 2

While examining a 75-year-old woman, the nurse notices that the skin over her right breast is thickened and the hair follicles are exaggerated.This condition is known as:

Accepted Answer

A) Dimpling. 
B) Retraction. 
C) Peau d'orange. 
D) Benign breast disease.

Question 3

When performing a breast assessment, the nurse notes smooth, elastic and firm breast tissue.The nurse recognizes this as a normal finding as the breast consists of:

Accepted Answer

A) Primarily muscle with very little fibrous tissue 
B) Fibrous, glandular, and adipose tissues 
C) Primarily milk ducts, known as lactiferous ducts 
D) Nodular tissue, which supports the breast by attaching to the chest wall

Question 4

Which of these clinical situations would the nurse be concerned about and consider to be outside normal findings?

Accepted Answer

A) A patient has had one pregnancy and states that she believes she may be entering menopause.Her breast examination reveals breasts that are soft and slightly sagging. 
B) A patient has never been pregnant.Her breast examination reveals large pendulous breasts that have a firm, transverse ridge along the lower quadrant in both breasts. 
C) A patient has never been pregnant and reports that she should begin her period tomorrow.Her breast examination reveals breast tissue that is nodular and somewhat engorged.She states that the examination was slightly painful. 
D) A patient has had two pregnancies, and she breastfed both of her children.Her youngest child is now 10 years old.Her breast examination reveals breast tissue that is somewhat soft, and she has a small amount of thick yellow discharge from both nipples.

Question 5

A 9-year-old girl is in the clinic for a sport physical examination.After some initial shyness, she finally asks, "Am I normal? I don't seem to need a bra yet, but I have some friends who do.What if I never get breasts?" The nurse's best response would be:

Accepted Answer

A) "Don't worry, you still have plenty of time to develop." 
B) "I know just how you feel, I was a late bloomer myself.Just be patient, and they will grow." 
C) "You will probably get your periods before you notice any significant growth in your breasts." 
D) "I understand that it is hard to feel different from your friends.Breasts usually develop between 8 and 10 years of age."

Question 6

During an interview, a patient reveals that she is pregnant.She states that she is not sure whether she will breastfeed her baby and asks for some information about this.Which of these statements by the nurse is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) "Breastfed babies tend to be more colicky." 
B) "Breastfeeding provides the perfect food and antibodies for your baby." 
C) "Breastfed babies eat more often than infants on formula." 
D) "Breastfeeding is second nature, and every woman can do it."

Question 7

A 54-year-old man comes to the clinic with a "horrible problem." He tells the nurse that he has just discovered a lump on his breast and is fearful of cancer.The nurse knows which statement about breast cancer in men is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Breast masses in men are difficult to detect because of minimal breast tissue. 
B) Breast cancer in men rarely spreads to the lymph nodes. 
C) One percent of all breast cancers occurs in men. 
D) Most breast masses in men are diagnosed as gynecomastia.

Question 8

During a physical examination, a 45-year-old woman states that she has had a crusty, itchy rash on her breast for approximately 2 weeks.In trying to find the cause of the rash, which question would be important for the nurse to ask?

Accepted Answer

A) "Is the rash raised and red?" 
B) "Does it appear to be cyclical?" 
C) "Where did the rash first appear-on the nipple, the areola, or the surrounding skin?" 
D) "What were you doing when she first noticed the rash, and do your actions make it worse?"

Question 9

The nurse has palpated a lump in a female patient's right breast.The nurse documents this as a small, round, firm, distinct, lump located at the 2 o'clock position, 2 cm from the nipple.It is nontender and fixed.No associated retraction of the skin or nipple, no erythema, and no axillary lymphadenopathy are observed.What information is missing from the documentation?

Accepted Answer

A) Shape of the lump 
B) Consistency of the lump 
C) Size of the lump 
D) Whether the lump is solitary or multiple

Question 10

The nurse is palpating a female patient's breasts during an examination.Which of these positions is most likely to make significant lumps more distinct during breast palpation?

Accepted Answer

A) Supine with the arms raised over her head 
B) Sitting with the arms relaxed at her sides 
C) Supine with the arms relaxed at her sides 
D) Sitting with the arms flexed and fingertips touching her shoulders

Question 11

In examining a 70-year-old male patient, the nurse notices that he has bilateral gynecomastia.Which of the following describes the nurse's best course of action?

Accepted Answer

A) Recommend that he make an appointment with his physician for a mammogram 
B) Ignore it; benign breast enlargement in men is not unusual 
C) Explain that this condition may be the result of hormonal changes, and recommend that he see his physician 
D) Explain that gynecomastia in men is usually associated with prostate enlargement and recommend that he be thoroughly screened

Question 12

During an annual physical examination, a 43-year-old patient states that she does not perform monthly breast self-examinations (BSEs).She tells the nurse that she believes that mammography "does a much better job than I ever could to find a lump." The nurse should explain to her that:

Accepted Answer

A) BSEs may detect lumps that appear between mammography scans. 
B) BSEs are unnecessary until age 50 years. 
C) She is correct-mammography is a good replacement for BSE. 
D) She does not need to perform BSEs as long as a physician checks her breasts annually.

Question 13

The nurse is discussing BSEs with a postmenopausal woman.The best time for postmenopausal women to perform BSEs is:

Accepted Answer

A) On the same day every month. 
B) Daily, during the shower or bath. 
C) One week after the menstrual period. 
D) Every year during the annual gynecological examination.

Question 14

The nurse is assessing the breasts of a 68-year-old woman and discovers a mass in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast.When assessing this mass, the nurse is aware that characteristics of a cancerous mass include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A) Nontender mass 
B) Dull, heavy pain on palpation 
C) Rubbery texture and mobile 
D) Hard, dense, and immobile 
E) Regular border
F)Irregular, poorly delineated border

Question 15

While inspecting a patient's breasts, the nurse finds that the left breast is slightly larger than the right with the bilateral presence of Montgomery's glands.The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

A) Palpate over Montgomery's glands, checking for drainage. 
B) Consider these findings as normal, and proceed with the examination. 
C) Ask extensive health history questions regarding the woman's breast asymmetry. 
D) Continue with the examination, and then refer the patient for further evaluation of Montgomery's glands.

Question 16

During a breast health interview, a patient states that she has noticed pain in her left breast.The nurse's most appropriate response to this would be:

Accepted Answer

A) "Don't worry about the pain; breast cancer is not painful." 
B) "I would like some more information about the pain in your left breast." 
C) "Oh, I had pain like that after my son was born; it turned out to be a blocked milk duct." 
D) "Breast pain is almost always the result of benign breast disease."

Question 17

A woman has just learned that she is pregnant.What are some things the nurse should teach her about her breasts?

Accepted Answer

A) She can expect her areolae to become larger and darker in colour. 
B) Breasts may begin secreting milk after the fourth month of pregnancy. 
C) She should inspect her breasts for visible veins and immediately report these. 
D) During pregnancy, breast changes are fairly uncommon; most of the changes occur after the birth.

Question 18

A patient states during the interview that she noticed a new lump in the shower a few days ago.It was on her left breast near her axilla.The nurse will:

Accepted Answer

A) Palpate the lump first. 
B) Palpate the unaffected breast first. 
C) Avoid palpating the lump because it could be a cyst, which might rupture. 
D) Palpate the breast with the lump first but plan to palpate the axilla last.

Question 19

A patient contacts the office and tells the nurse that she is worried about her 10-year-old daughter having breast cancer.She describes a unilateral enlargement of the right breast with associated tenderness.She is worried because the left breast is not enlarged.What would be the nurse's best response? Tell the mother that:

Accepted Answer

A) Breast development is usually fairly symmetrical and that the daughter should be examined right away. 
B) She should bring in her daughter right away because breast cancer is fairly common in preadolescent girls. 
C) Although an examination of her daughter would rule out a problem, her breast development is most likely normal. 
D) It is unusual for breasts that are first developing to feel tender because they have not developed much fibrous tissue.

Question 20

In performing a breast examination, the nurse knows that examining the upper outer quadrant of the breast is especially important.The reason for this is that the upper outer quadrant is:

Accepted Answer

A) The largest quadrant of the breast. 
B) The location of most breast tumours. 
C) Where most of the suspensory ligaments attach. 
D) More prone to injury and calcifications than other locations in the breast.

Exam 18: Breasts and Regional Lymphatics