Galen NSG 3160 Health Assessment: Practice Test 2 (Units
8-13) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Breast development in adolescents is assessed using:
A. Tanner sexual maturity rating stages 1 to 5
B. The Apgar score
C. The Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
Correct Answer: A. Tanner sexual maturity rating stages 1 to 5
Rationale: Tanner stages describe progression from prepubertal to adult breast development, with breast
buds (thelarche) as stage 2. The other scales assess newborns, consciousness and skin risk.
2. The breast exam in a transgender woman taking estrogen should:
A. Include breast tissue assessment, as estrogen stimulates glandular development
B. Be omitted
C. Focus only on the prostate
D. Be done only after age 75
Correct Answer: A. Include breast tissue assessment, as estrogen stimulates glandular
development
Rationale: Feminizing hormones cause breast growth and some cancer risk, so screening is based on
duration of hormone use and age. Omitting the exam may miss changes.
3. Clinical breast examination should be accompanied by:
A. Telling the patient she does not need mammograms
B. Teaching about breast self-awareness and screening recommendations
C. A pelvic exam only
D. Antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Teaching about breast self-awareness and screening recommendations
Rationale: Each exam is an opportunity to reinforce early detection and personal risk factors. A clinical
exam does not replace mammograms when they are recommended.
,4. Breast cancer in men usually presents as:
A. Bilateral tender swelling
B. Diffuse fatty enlargement
C. A painless, firm lump under or near the nipple
D. Rash on the chest
Correct Answer: C. A painless, firm lump under or near the nipple
Rationale: Male breast cancer is rare and often diagnosed late, so any firm one-sided mass needs
evaluation. Bilateral tender swelling is more typical of gynecomastia.
5. After a mastectomy, the nurse should examine the:
A. Only the remaining breast
B. Only the axilla on the opposite side
C. Nothing, because the breast was removed
D. Incision site, chest wall and axilla for masses, redness or swelling
Correct Answer: D. Incision site, chest wall and axilla for masses, redness or swelling
Rationale: Recurrence can develop along the scar or chest wall, so these areas are inspected and
palpated along with the other breast. Skipping the surgical side may miss recurrence.
6. Most lymph from the breast drains to the:
A. Axillary lymph nodes
B. Inguinal lymph nodes
C. Cervical lymph nodes only
D. Popliteal nodes
Correct Answer: A. Axillary lymph nodes
Rationale: More than 75% of breast lymph drains to the axillary nodes, which is why they are examined
and sampled in breast cancer staging. Inguinal and popliteal nodes drain the legs.
,7. When examining a patient with large, pendulous breasts, the nurse can:
A. Skip the lower half of the breast
B. Palpate only standing
C. Avoid the exam
D. Use bimanual palpation with the patient sitting, supporting the breast with one hand
Correct Answer: D. Use bimanual palpation with the patient sitting, supporting the breast with
one hand
Rationale: Supporting the breast between the hands improves detection of masses in large breasts. All
tissue must still be examined in the supine position as well.
8. The best time for a premenopausal woman to examine her breasts is:
A. Just before her period
B. During ovulation only
C. Any time during menstruation's first day
D. About 1 week after the start of her period, when tenderness and swelling are least
Correct Answer: D. About 1 week after the start of her period, when tenderness and swelling
are least
Rationale: Hormonal swelling is lowest after menstruation, making changes easier to detect.
Postmenopausal women can choose a consistent day each month.
9. A breast lump is found in a 45-year-old woman. The nurse should:
A. Document its characteristics and refer for diagnostic imaging
B. Reassure her that it is likely nothing
C. Tell her to recheck in a year
D. Massage the lump
Correct Answer: A. Document its characteristics and refer for diagnostic imaging
Rationale: Any new lump needs evaluation with mammography or ultrasound and possibly biopsy. False
reassurance or delayed follow-up may delay a cancer diagnosis.
, 10. The recommended pattern for palpating the breast is:
A. Random spot checks
B. Only around the nipple
C. Vertical strip pattern covering the entire breast, including the tail of Spence
D. Only the upper half
Correct Answer: C. Vertical strip pattern covering the entire breast, including the tail of
Spence
Rationale: The vertical strip technique has been shown to be the most thorough, covering from the
clavicle to the bra line and from the midaxillary line to the sternum. Random or partial checks miss areas.
11. Gynecomastia is:
A. Breast cancer in men
B. Inflammation of the male nipple
C. Absence of breast tissue
D. Enlargement of breast tissue in a male
Correct Answer: D. Enlargement of breast tissue in a male
Rationale: Gynecomastia is common during puberty and in older men and may be caused by hormonal
changes, medications such as spironolactone or liver disease. It is benign but should be evaluated if
one-sided or hard.
12. Breast density on a mammogram is important because dense breasts:
A. Indicate breast cancer
B. Mean no further screening is needed
C. Are only found in older women
D. Make cancers harder to detect and slightly increase cancer risk
Correct Answer: D. Make cancers harder to detect and slightly increase cancer risk
Rationale: Dense tissue looks white on mammograms, like tumors, and may require supplemental
imaging. It is common in younger women and does not by itself mean cancer.
8-13) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. Breast development in adolescents is assessed using:
A. Tanner sexual maturity rating stages 1 to 5
B. The Apgar score
C. The Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
Correct Answer: A. Tanner sexual maturity rating stages 1 to 5
Rationale: Tanner stages describe progression from prepubertal to adult breast development, with breast
buds (thelarche) as stage 2. The other scales assess newborns, consciousness and skin risk.
2. The breast exam in a transgender woman taking estrogen should:
A. Include breast tissue assessment, as estrogen stimulates glandular development
B. Be omitted
C. Focus only on the prostate
D. Be done only after age 75
Correct Answer: A. Include breast tissue assessment, as estrogen stimulates glandular
development
Rationale: Feminizing hormones cause breast growth and some cancer risk, so screening is based on
duration of hormone use and age. Omitting the exam may miss changes.
3. Clinical breast examination should be accompanied by:
A. Telling the patient she does not need mammograms
B. Teaching about breast self-awareness and screening recommendations
C. A pelvic exam only
D. Antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Teaching about breast self-awareness and screening recommendations
Rationale: Each exam is an opportunity to reinforce early detection and personal risk factors. A clinical
exam does not replace mammograms when they are recommended.
,4. Breast cancer in men usually presents as:
A. Bilateral tender swelling
B. Diffuse fatty enlargement
C. A painless, firm lump under or near the nipple
D. Rash on the chest
Correct Answer: C. A painless, firm lump under or near the nipple
Rationale: Male breast cancer is rare and often diagnosed late, so any firm one-sided mass needs
evaluation. Bilateral tender swelling is more typical of gynecomastia.
5. After a mastectomy, the nurse should examine the:
A. Only the remaining breast
B. Only the axilla on the opposite side
C. Nothing, because the breast was removed
D. Incision site, chest wall and axilla for masses, redness or swelling
Correct Answer: D. Incision site, chest wall and axilla for masses, redness or swelling
Rationale: Recurrence can develop along the scar or chest wall, so these areas are inspected and
palpated along with the other breast. Skipping the surgical side may miss recurrence.
6. Most lymph from the breast drains to the:
A. Axillary lymph nodes
B. Inguinal lymph nodes
C. Cervical lymph nodes only
D. Popliteal nodes
Correct Answer: A. Axillary lymph nodes
Rationale: More than 75% of breast lymph drains to the axillary nodes, which is why they are examined
and sampled in breast cancer staging. Inguinal and popliteal nodes drain the legs.
,7. When examining a patient with large, pendulous breasts, the nurse can:
A. Skip the lower half of the breast
B. Palpate only standing
C. Avoid the exam
D. Use bimanual palpation with the patient sitting, supporting the breast with one hand
Correct Answer: D. Use bimanual palpation with the patient sitting, supporting the breast with
one hand
Rationale: Supporting the breast between the hands improves detection of masses in large breasts. All
tissue must still be examined in the supine position as well.
8. The best time for a premenopausal woman to examine her breasts is:
A. Just before her period
B. During ovulation only
C. Any time during menstruation's first day
D. About 1 week after the start of her period, when tenderness and swelling are least
Correct Answer: D. About 1 week after the start of her period, when tenderness and swelling
are least
Rationale: Hormonal swelling is lowest after menstruation, making changes easier to detect.
Postmenopausal women can choose a consistent day each month.
9. A breast lump is found in a 45-year-old woman. The nurse should:
A. Document its characteristics and refer for diagnostic imaging
B. Reassure her that it is likely nothing
C. Tell her to recheck in a year
D. Massage the lump
Correct Answer: A. Document its characteristics and refer for diagnostic imaging
Rationale: Any new lump needs evaluation with mammography or ultrasound and possibly biopsy. False
reassurance or delayed follow-up may delay a cancer diagnosis.
, 10. The recommended pattern for palpating the breast is:
A. Random spot checks
B. Only around the nipple
C. Vertical strip pattern covering the entire breast, including the tail of Spence
D. Only the upper half
Correct Answer: C. Vertical strip pattern covering the entire breast, including the tail of
Spence
Rationale: The vertical strip technique has been shown to be the most thorough, covering from the
clavicle to the bra line and from the midaxillary line to the sternum. Random or partial checks miss areas.
11. Gynecomastia is:
A. Breast cancer in men
B. Inflammation of the male nipple
C. Absence of breast tissue
D. Enlargement of breast tissue in a male
Correct Answer: D. Enlargement of breast tissue in a male
Rationale: Gynecomastia is common during puberty and in older men and may be caused by hormonal
changes, medications such as spironolactone or liver disease. It is benign but should be evaluated if
one-sided or hard.
12. Breast density on a mammogram is important because dense breasts:
A. Indicate breast cancer
B. Mean no further screening is needed
C. Are only found in older women
D. Make cancers harder to detect and slightly increase cancer risk
Correct Answer: D. Make cancers harder to detect and slightly increase cancer risk
Rationale: Dense tissue looks white on mammograms, like tumors, and may require supplemental
imaging. It is common in younger women and does not by itself mean cancer.
