Chamberlain NR 304 Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health Assessment
II Q&A
1. During a breast examination on a 45-year-old female client, the nurse
notes peau d'orange appearance of the skin. Which of the following
conditions does this finding most strongly suggest?
A) Fibrocystic breast disease
B) Paget's disease
C) Inflammatory breast cancer
D) A benign cyst
Correct Answer: Inflammatory breast cancer
Rationale: Peau d'orange, meaning "orange peel" skin, is characterized by
edema and dimpling of the breast tissue, often caused by lymphatic
obstruction from an underlying malignancy. Inflammatory breast cancer is a
rare but aggressive form of breast cancer that commonly presents with this
classic sign, along with redness, warmth, and swelling. Fibrocystic changes,
Paget's disease, and benign cysts do not typically cause this characteristic
skin change.
2. A nurse is assessing a 14-year-old female client who is concerned that she
has not yet started menstruating. According to Tanner's stages of breast
development, which of the following is the best indicator that menarche is
approaching?
A) The appearance of axillary hair
B) The peak of the adolescent growth spurt
C) The age at which pubic hair first appeared
D) The beginning of breast budding
Correct Answer: The beginning of breast budding
,Rationale: Menarche typically occurs approximately 2 years after the onset of
breast budding (Tanner stage 2). Breast development generally begins
between ages 8 and 10, and menarche usually occurs in breast development
stage 3 or 4, just after the peak of the adolescent growth spurt. While the
appearance of axillary and pubic hair occurs during puberty, the timing of
breast budding is the most reliable predictor of menarche.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about breast self-examination (BSE). Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
A) "Perform BSE on the first day of your menstrual period."
B) "Perform BSE once a month, 4 to 7 days after your menstrual period
ends."
C) "Perform BSE daily in the shower."
D) "Perform BSE only if you have a family history of breast cancer."
Correct Answer: "Perform BSE once a month, 4 to 7 days after your
menstrual period ends."
Rationale: For premenopausal women, breast self-examination is
recommended monthly, 4 to 7 days after the menstrual period ends, when
the breasts are least tender and least likely to be affected by hormonal
changes. A systematic pattern, such as the vertical strip pattern, is
recommended to ensure thorough coverage of all breast tissue.
4. A nurse is assessing the breast of a male client and notes a smooth, firm,
movable mass beneath the nipple. The client reports tenderness. Which of
the following conditions should the nurse suspect?
A) Breast cancer
B) Gynecomastia
C) A sebaceous cyst
D) An enlarged axillary lymph node
,Correct Answer: Gynecomastia
Rationale: Gynecomastia is benign breast enlargement in males, often
presenting as a smooth, firm, tender, and movable disc of tissue beneath the
nipple. It is commonly associated with hormonal imbalances, medication side
effects, or underlying conditions such as liver disease. While male breast
cancer is possible, it is rare and typically presents as a hard, fixed, non-
tender mass.
5. A nurse is assessing a female client's breasts. Which quadrant of the
breast should the nurse recognize as the most common site for breast
tumors?
A) Upper inner quadrant
B) Upper outer quadrant
C) Lower inner quadrant
D) Lower outer quadrant
Correct Answer: Upper outer quadrant
Rationale: The upper outer quadrant of the breast contains the most
glandular tissue and is the most common site for breast tumors. This area
should be examined particularly carefully during both clinical breast exams
and self-examinations.
6. A nurse is palpating a client's axillae. Which of the following findings is
considered abnormal?
A) Palpable, small, mobile, non-tender lymph nodes
B) Palpable, hard, fixed, non-tender lymph nodes
C) Palpable, tender, warm, mobile lymph nodes
, D) No palpable lymph nodes
Correct Answer: Palpable, hard, fixed, non-tender lymph nodes
Rationale: Lymph nodes that are hard, fixed, non-tender, and irregular are
concerning signs that may indicate malignancy. Small, mobile, non-tender
nodes can be normal. Tender, warm, mobile nodes are typically associated
with infection.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's abdomen and notes a protuberant,
symmetrical contour. The nurse should recognize that this finding is:
A) Always pathological
B) A normal finding in some individuals
C) Diagnostic of ascites
D) Only seen in pregnant women
Correct Answer: A normal finding in some individuals
Rationale: A protuberant, symmetrical abdomen can be a normal finding,
particularly in individuals who are obese, pregnant, or have a relaxed
abdominal wall. It can also be caused by ascites or gas, so the finding must
be correlated with other assessment data.
8. A nurse is auscultating a client's abdomen and notes a bruit over the
abdominal aorta. This finding is most consistent with which of the following
conditions?
A) Normal bowel sounds
B) An abdominal aortic aneurysm
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) A hernia
II Q&A
1. During a breast examination on a 45-year-old female client, the nurse
notes peau d'orange appearance of the skin. Which of the following
conditions does this finding most strongly suggest?
A) Fibrocystic breast disease
B) Paget's disease
C) Inflammatory breast cancer
D) A benign cyst
Correct Answer: Inflammatory breast cancer
Rationale: Peau d'orange, meaning "orange peel" skin, is characterized by
edema and dimpling of the breast tissue, often caused by lymphatic
obstruction from an underlying malignancy. Inflammatory breast cancer is a
rare but aggressive form of breast cancer that commonly presents with this
classic sign, along with redness, warmth, and swelling. Fibrocystic changes,
Paget's disease, and benign cysts do not typically cause this characteristic
skin change.
2. A nurse is assessing a 14-year-old female client who is concerned that she
has not yet started menstruating. According to Tanner's stages of breast
development, which of the following is the best indicator that menarche is
approaching?
A) The appearance of axillary hair
B) The peak of the adolescent growth spurt
C) The age at which pubic hair first appeared
D) The beginning of breast budding
Correct Answer: The beginning of breast budding
,Rationale: Menarche typically occurs approximately 2 years after the onset of
breast budding (Tanner stage 2). Breast development generally begins
between ages 8 and 10, and menarche usually occurs in breast development
stage 3 or 4, just after the peak of the adolescent growth spurt. While the
appearance of axillary and pubic hair occurs during puberty, the timing of
breast budding is the most reliable predictor of menarche.
3. A nurse is teaching a client about breast self-examination (BSE). Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
A) "Perform BSE on the first day of your menstrual period."
B) "Perform BSE once a month, 4 to 7 days after your menstrual period
ends."
C) "Perform BSE daily in the shower."
D) "Perform BSE only if you have a family history of breast cancer."
Correct Answer: "Perform BSE once a month, 4 to 7 days after your
menstrual period ends."
Rationale: For premenopausal women, breast self-examination is
recommended monthly, 4 to 7 days after the menstrual period ends, when
the breasts are least tender and least likely to be affected by hormonal
changes. A systematic pattern, such as the vertical strip pattern, is
recommended to ensure thorough coverage of all breast tissue.
4. A nurse is assessing the breast of a male client and notes a smooth, firm,
movable mass beneath the nipple. The client reports tenderness. Which of
the following conditions should the nurse suspect?
A) Breast cancer
B) Gynecomastia
C) A sebaceous cyst
D) An enlarged axillary lymph node
,Correct Answer: Gynecomastia
Rationale: Gynecomastia is benign breast enlargement in males, often
presenting as a smooth, firm, tender, and movable disc of tissue beneath the
nipple. It is commonly associated with hormonal imbalances, medication side
effects, or underlying conditions such as liver disease. While male breast
cancer is possible, it is rare and typically presents as a hard, fixed, non-
tender mass.
5. A nurse is assessing a female client's breasts. Which quadrant of the
breast should the nurse recognize as the most common site for breast
tumors?
A) Upper inner quadrant
B) Upper outer quadrant
C) Lower inner quadrant
D) Lower outer quadrant
Correct Answer: Upper outer quadrant
Rationale: The upper outer quadrant of the breast contains the most
glandular tissue and is the most common site for breast tumors. This area
should be examined particularly carefully during both clinical breast exams
and self-examinations.
6. A nurse is palpating a client's axillae. Which of the following findings is
considered abnormal?
A) Palpable, small, mobile, non-tender lymph nodes
B) Palpable, hard, fixed, non-tender lymph nodes
C) Palpable, tender, warm, mobile lymph nodes
, D) No palpable lymph nodes
Correct Answer: Palpable, hard, fixed, non-tender lymph nodes
Rationale: Lymph nodes that are hard, fixed, non-tender, and irregular are
concerning signs that may indicate malignancy. Small, mobile, non-tender
nodes can be normal. Tender, warm, mobile nodes are typically associated
with infection.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's abdomen and notes a protuberant,
symmetrical contour. The nurse should recognize that this finding is:
A) Always pathological
B) A normal finding in some individuals
C) Diagnostic of ascites
D) Only seen in pregnant women
Correct Answer: A normal finding in some individuals
Rationale: A protuberant, symmetrical abdomen can be a normal finding,
particularly in individuals who are obese, pregnant, or have a relaxed
abdominal wall. It can also be caused by ascites or gas, so the finding must
be correlated with other assessment data.
8. A nurse is auscultating a client's abdomen and notes a bruit over the
abdominal aorta. This finding is most consistent with which of the following
conditions?
A) Normal bowel sounds
B) An abdominal aortic aneurysm
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) A hernia
