Comprehensive Study 1 Up to Date Content
Breast disorders Latest Questions
and Graded Answers
A 45-year-old woman comes into the OB/GYN clinic for her
yearly check-up. The woman mentions to the nurse that she
has a dimpling of the right breast that has occurred in the last
2 weeks. She has not performed a self-breast examination.
What assessment would be appropriate for the nurse to
make?
a) Order an immediate mammogram
b) Palpate the area for a breast mass
c) Call the physician to schedule a biopsy
d) Evaluate the patient's milk production
Ans: b: It would be most important for the nurse to
palpate the breast to determine the presence of a
mass. Edema and pitting of the skin may result from
a neoplasm blocking lymphatic drainage, giving the
skin an orange-peel appearance (peau d'orange), a
classic sign of advanced breast cancer. Evaluation of
milk production is required in lactating women.
There is no indication of lactation in the scenario. A
mammogram is an appropriate diagnostic test, but
unless the nurse is a practitioner this would not be
within the nurse's realm of practice. A referral could
be made to a physician but the nurse would not
proceed to schedule a biopsy
A 33-year-old female client reports yellow nipple discharge
and a pain in her breasts a week before menses that
dissipates on the onset of menses. Diagnosis reveals that the
client is experiencing fibrocystic breast changes. Which
Up to Date Content
,Comprehensive Study 2 Up to Date Content
instructions should the nurse offer the client to help alleviate
the condition? Select all that apply.
a) Avoid caffeine
b) Practice good hand-washing techniques
c) Increase fluid intake steadily
d) Take diuretics as recommended
e) Maintain a low-fat diet
Ans: a, d, e: The nurse should instruct the client
with fibrocystic breast changes to avoid caffeine.
Caffeine acts as a stimulant that can lead to
discomfort. It is important to maintain a lowfat diet
rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains to maintain a
healthy body weight. Taking diuretics is important to
counteract fluid retention and swelling of the breasts.
Practicing good handwashing techniques and
increasing fluid intake are important for clients with
mastitis but may not help clients with fibrocystic
breast changes.
A nurse is preparing a presentation for a health fair about
preventing breast cancer. Which of the following would the
nurse include?
a) Opting for estrogen only replacement therapy during
menopause
b) Increasing the intake of caffeinated drinks
c) Delaying childbearing until after age 30
d) Maintaining an ideal weight
Up to Date Content
,Comprehensive Study 3 Up to Date Content
Ans: d: Maintaining an ideal weight decreases the
risk of breast cancer. Having no children or having
children after age 30 is associated with an increased
risk for breast cancer. Some breast tumors are
hormone dependent, such that estrogen (or
progesterone) enhances tumor growth. Women are
advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol, not
caffeine, because alcohol correlates with an increased
risk of breast cancer
After teaching a client with mastitis about caring for her
breasts, the nurse determines that the client has understood
the instructions when she states which of the following?
a) " Until the infection is gone, I can't take a tub bath or
shower."
b) "I should avoid wearing a bra because it would increase
the pain."
c) "I will express milk with a breast pump until infection is
resolved."
d) "I need to apply cold soaks to the breast several times a
day."
Ans: c: The client statement about expressing milk
with a breast pump until the infection is resolved
indicates effective teaching. The client should apply
warm soaks to the breast or let warm water from a
shower flow over the breast. The nurse should advise
the client to wear a supportive brassiere. The client
should bathe or shower regularly
Which of the following would the nurse include in the plan of
care for a client diagnosed with breast cancer who has
undergone a mastectomy?
Up to Date Content
, Comprehensive Study 4 Up to Date Content
a) Instructing client to use arm pumps
b) Encouraging the client to perform arm exercises
c) Applying ace bandages to the arms
d) Counseling the client to apply elastic sleeves to her arms
Ans: b: Encouraging the client to perform arm
exercises is important to maintain circulation to the
arm on the affected side. Use of elastic sleeves, arm
pumps, and ace bandaging is recommended for
clients who may have complications following
radiation or surgery for lymphedema of the arm
A nurse is assigned to educate a group of women on cancer
awareness. Which risk factors for breast cancer are
modifiable? Select all that apply.
a) Previous abnormal breast biopsy
b) Early menarche or late menopause
c) Failing to breastfeed for up to a year after pregnancy
d) Postmenopausal use of estrogen and progestins
e) Not having children until after age 30
Ans: c, d, e: The modifiable risk factors for breast
cancer are postmenopausal use of estrogen and
progestins, not having children until after the age of
30, and failing to breastfeed for up to a year after
pregnancy. Early menarche or late menopause and
previous abnormal breast biopsy are the
nonmodifiable risk factors for breast cancer
While performing a clinical breast examination on a client,
the nurse inspects the breasts with the client in various
Up to Date Content
Breast disorders Latest Questions
and Graded Answers
A 45-year-old woman comes into the OB/GYN clinic for her
yearly check-up. The woman mentions to the nurse that she
has a dimpling of the right breast that has occurred in the last
2 weeks. She has not performed a self-breast examination.
What assessment would be appropriate for the nurse to
make?
a) Order an immediate mammogram
b) Palpate the area for a breast mass
c) Call the physician to schedule a biopsy
d) Evaluate the patient's milk production
Ans: b: It would be most important for the nurse to
palpate the breast to determine the presence of a
mass. Edema and pitting of the skin may result from
a neoplasm blocking lymphatic drainage, giving the
skin an orange-peel appearance (peau d'orange), a
classic sign of advanced breast cancer. Evaluation of
milk production is required in lactating women.
There is no indication of lactation in the scenario. A
mammogram is an appropriate diagnostic test, but
unless the nurse is a practitioner this would not be
within the nurse's realm of practice. A referral could
be made to a physician but the nurse would not
proceed to schedule a biopsy
A 33-year-old female client reports yellow nipple discharge
and a pain in her breasts a week before menses that
dissipates on the onset of menses. Diagnosis reveals that the
client is experiencing fibrocystic breast changes. Which
Up to Date Content
,Comprehensive Study 2 Up to Date Content
instructions should the nurse offer the client to help alleviate
the condition? Select all that apply.
a) Avoid caffeine
b) Practice good hand-washing techniques
c) Increase fluid intake steadily
d) Take diuretics as recommended
e) Maintain a low-fat diet
Ans: a, d, e: The nurse should instruct the client
with fibrocystic breast changes to avoid caffeine.
Caffeine acts as a stimulant that can lead to
discomfort. It is important to maintain a lowfat diet
rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains to maintain a
healthy body weight. Taking diuretics is important to
counteract fluid retention and swelling of the breasts.
Practicing good handwashing techniques and
increasing fluid intake are important for clients with
mastitis but may not help clients with fibrocystic
breast changes.
A nurse is preparing a presentation for a health fair about
preventing breast cancer. Which of the following would the
nurse include?
a) Opting for estrogen only replacement therapy during
menopause
b) Increasing the intake of caffeinated drinks
c) Delaying childbearing until after age 30
d) Maintaining an ideal weight
Up to Date Content
,Comprehensive Study 3 Up to Date Content
Ans: d: Maintaining an ideal weight decreases the
risk of breast cancer. Having no children or having
children after age 30 is associated with an increased
risk for breast cancer. Some breast tumors are
hormone dependent, such that estrogen (or
progesterone) enhances tumor growth. Women are
advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol, not
caffeine, because alcohol correlates with an increased
risk of breast cancer
After teaching a client with mastitis about caring for her
breasts, the nurse determines that the client has understood
the instructions when she states which of the following?
a) " Until the infection is gone, I can't take a tub bath or
shower."
b) "I should avoid wearing a bra because it would increase
the pain."
c) "I will express milk with a breast pump until infection is
resolved."
d) "I need to apply cold soaks to the breast several times a
day."
Ans: c: The client statement about expressing milk
with a breast pump until the infection is resolved
indicates effective teaching. The client should apply
warm soaks to the breast or let warm water from a
shower flow over the breast. The nurse should advise
the client to wear a supportive brassiere. The client
should bathe or shower regularly
Which of the following would the nurse include in the plan of
care for a client diagnosed with breast cancer who has
undergone a mastectomy?
Up to Date Content
, Comprehensive Study 4 Up to Date Content
a) Instructing client to use arm pumps
b) Encouraging the client to perform arm exercises
c) Applying ace bandages to the arms
d) Counseling the client to apply elastic sleeves to her arms
Ans: b: Encouraging the client to perform arm
exercises is important to maintain circulation to the
arm on the affected side. Use of elastic sleeves, arm
pumps, and ace bandaging is recommended for
clients who may have complications following
radiation or surgery for lymphedema of the arm
A nurse is assigned to educate a group of women on cancer
awareness. Which risk factors for breast cancer are
modifiable? Select all that apply.
a) Previous abnormal breast biopsy
b) Early menarche or late menopause
c) Failing to breastfeed for up to a year after pregnancy
d) Postmenopausal use of estrogen and progestins
e) Not having children until after age 30
Ans: c, d, e: The modifiable risk factors for breast
cancer are postmenopausal use of estrogen and
progestins, not having children until after the age of
30, and failing to breastfeed for up to a year after
pregnancy. Early menarche or late menopause and
previous abnormal breast biopsy are the
nonmodifiable risk factors for breast cancer
While performing a clinical breast examination on a client,
the nurse inspects the breasts with the client in various
Up to Date Content
