NUR 216 EXAM 5 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026
1. Where are most breast cancers found? - Answers - Are found in the tail of Spence, in
the axilla.
1. What is the process to complete a nursing assessment of the breast? - Answers -
Inspect the breasts note size, shape, symmetry, and color. Inspect with the client in
each of the following positions:
a. Sitting or standing with arms at her side
b. Sitting or standing with arms raised slightly but not over her head. Aids in detecting
dimpling or retraction of breast tissue
c. Seated or standing with her hands pressed on her hips. Aids in detecting dimpling or
retraction of breast tissue
d. With the client leaning forward. Helpful when examining large, pendulous breasts
e. With the client supine with a pillow under the shoulder of the breast being examined.
Helps spread the breast tissue over the chest wall.
Inspect the nipples and areolae note color, shape, and symmetry. Observe for any
discharge.
Inspect the axillae note the color, condition of the skin, and hair distribution.
Palpate the breasts, wearing procedure gloves if necessary. Using the finger pads of
your three middle fingers, make small circles with light, medium, and deep pressure.
Begin at an imaginary line drawn straight down the side from the underarm; move
across the breast to the middle of the sternum. Check the entire breast area, moving
down until you feel only ribs and up to the clavicle. Follow one of the following three
patterns (evidence suggests the vertical strip method is best).
a. Vertical strip method: Start at the sternal edge and palpate the breast in parallel lines
until you reach the midaxillary line. Go up one area and down the adjacent strip (like
"mowing the grass").
b. Pie wedge method: This method examines the breast in wedges. Move from one
wedge to the next.
c. Concentric circles method: Start at the outermost area of the breast at the 12 o'clock
position. Move clockwise in concentric, ever smaller, circles.
Palpate the nipples and areolae.
a. If the woman is supine, place a small pillow or folded towel under
1. When is normal breast development for girls? - Answers - Breasts typically begin to
develop at about age 13 yrs. near menarche; each breast may not develop at equal
rates, which can be normal.
1. What is menarche? - Answers - (First menstruation) occurs approximately 2 years
after the beginning of puberty. The average age of menarche is 12 years, depending on
the racial group and body mass.
, 1. What are the Tanner stages of development?
5 stages of pubic hair development and sex maturity rating (SMR)
(males and females) - Answers - · Stage 1: Preadolescent. No pubic hair. Mons and
labia covered with fine vellus hair as on abdomen
· Stage 2: Growth sparse and mostly on labia. Long, downy hair, slightly pigmented,
straight or only slightly curly
· Stage 3: Growth sparse and spreading over mons pubis. Hair is darker, coarser,
curlier
· Stage 4: Hair is adult in type but over smaller area. None on medial thigh
· Stage 5: Adult in type and pattern, inverse triangle. Also on medial thigh surface
1. What is colostrum and when is breast milk developed? - Answers - Colostrum (a
thick, yellow precursor to breast milk) can sometimes be expressed as early as the
second trimester.
1. What do you do if you assess asymmetry in the breast? - Answers - divide the breast
into four quadrants by intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. With the nipple as the
center.
What is the procedure to screen for nipple and skin retraction during a breast exam? -
Answers - Inspect the breasts note size, shape, symmetry, and color. Inspect with the
client in each of the following positions:
a. Sitting or standing with arms at her side
b. Sitting or standing with arms raised slightly but not over her head. Aids in detecting
dimpling or retraction of breast tissue
c. Seated or standing with her hands pressed on her hips. Aids in detecting dimpling or
retraction of breast tissue
d. With the client leaning forward. Helpful when examining large, pendulous breasts
e. With the client supine with a pillow under the shoulder of the breast being examined.
Helps spread the breast tissue over the chest wall.
1. What descriptions should be included in documentation for a breast lump? - Answers
- its size, shape, symmetry, mobility, tenderness, and skin color changes, location,
divide the breast into four quadrants.
1. When is the best time to perform a BSE for a nonpregnant women or menopausal
woman? - Answers - 4 to 7 days after the first day of the menstrual period.
1. What is a supernumerary nipple and what does it mean? - Answers - It is an extra
nipple along the embryonic "milk line" on the thorax or abdomen.
1. What is peau d' orange skin and what may it mean? - Answers - (Dimpled skin
texture) skin changes may be seen with lymphatic obstruction that is present in some
forms of breast cancer.
ANSWERS 2026
1. Where are most breast cancers found? - Answers - Are found in the tail of Spence, in
the axilla.
1. What is the process to complete a nursing assessment of the breast? - Answers -
Inspect the breasts note size, shape, symmetry, and color. Inspect with the client in
each of the following positions:
a. Sitting or standing with arms at her side
b. Sitting or standing with arms raised slightly but not over her head. Aids in detecting
dimpling or retraction of breast tissue
c. Seated or standing with her hands pressed on her hips. Aids in detecting dimpling or
retraction of breast tissue
d. With the client leaning forward. Helpful when examining large, pendulous breasts
e. With the client supine with a pillow under the shoulder of the breast being examined.
Helps spread the breast tissue over the chest wall.
Inspect the nipples and areolae note color, shape, and symmetry. Observe for any
discharge.
Inspect the axillae note the color, condition of the skin, and hair distribution.
Palpate the breasts, wearing procedure gloves if necessary. Using the finger pads of
your three middle fingers, make small circles with light, medium, and deep pressure.
Begin at an imaginary line drawn straight down the side from the underarm; move
across the breast to the middle of the sternum. Check the entire breast area, moving
down until you feel only ribs and up to the clavicle. Follow one of the following three
patterns (evidence suggests the vertical strip method is best).
a. Vertical strip method: Start at the sternal edge and palpate the breast in parallel lines
until you reach the midaxillary line. Go up one area and down the adjacent strip (like
"mowing the grass").
b. Pie wedge method: This method examines the breast in wedges. Move from one
wedge to the next.
c. Concentric circles method: Start at the outermost area of the breast at the 12 o'clock
position. Move clockwise in concentric, ever smaller, circles.
Palpate the nipples and areolae.
a. If the woman is supine, place a small pillow or folded towel under
1. When is normal breast development for girls? - Answers - Breasts typically begin to
develop at about age 13 yrs. near menarche; each breast may not develop at equal
rates, which can be normal.
1. What is menarche? - Answers - (First menstruation) occurs approximately 2 years
after the beginning of puberty. The average age of menarche is 12 years, depending on
the racial group and body mass.
, 1. What are the Tanner stages of development?
5 stages of pubic hair development and sex maturity rating (SMR)
(males and females) - Answers - · Stage 1: Preadolescent. No pubic hair. Mons and
labia covered with fine vellus hair as on abdomen
· Stage 2: Growth sparse and mostly on labia. Long, downy hair, slightly pigmented,
straight or only slightly curly
· Stage 3: Growth sparse and spreading over mons pubis. Hair is darker, coarser,
curlier
· Stage 4: Hair is adult in type but over smaller area. None on medial thigh
· Stage 5: Adult in type and pattern, inverse triangle. Also on medial thigh surface
1. What is colostrum and when is breast milk developed? - Answers - Colostrum (a
thick, yellow precursor to breast milk) can sometimes be expressed as early as the
second trimester.
1. What do you do if you assess asymmetry in the breast? - Answers - divide the breast
into four quadrants by intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. With the nipple as the
center.
What is the procedure to screen for nipple and skin retraction during a breast exam? -
Answers - Inspect the breasts note size, shape, symmetry, and color. Inspect with the
client in each of the following positions:
a. Sitting or standing with arms at her side
b. Sitting or standing with arms raised slightly but not over her head. Aids in detecting
dimpling or retraction of breast tissue
c. Seated or standing with her hands pressed on her hips. Aids in detecting dimpling or
retraction of breast tissue
d. With the client leaning forward. Helpful when examining large, pendulous breasts
e. With the client supine with a pillow under the shoulder of the breast being examined.
Helps spread the breast tissue over the chest wall.
1. What descriptions should be included in documentation for a breast lump? - Answers
- its size, shape, symmetry, mobility, tenderness, and skin color changes, location,
divide the breast into four quadrants.
1. When is the best time to perform a BSE for a nonpregnant women or menopausal
woman? - Answers - 4 to 7 days after the first day of the menstrual period.
1. What is a supernumerary nipple and what does it mean? - Answers - It is an extra
nipple along the embryonic "milk line" on the thorax or abdomen.
1. What is peau d' orange skin and what may it mean? - Answers - (Dimpled skin
texture) skin changes may be seen with lymphatic obstruction that is present in some
forms of breast cancer.
