NSG 6020 Final Exam
Final
Breast and Lymphatics
Statement by the patient would indicate a need for further teaching?
A. "The best time to check my breasts is a week before my cycle."
B. "I will check my breasts in the shower one week after my cycle."
C. "I will exam my breast in a clock-like...
Statement by the patient would indicate a need for further teaching?
A. "The best time to check my breasts is a week before my cycle."
B. "I will check my breasts in the shower one week after my cycle."
C. "I will exam my breast in a clock-like sequence so that I don't miss any surface area."
D. "I will be sure to check my arm pits."
A
The week before a woman's cycle is not the best time to check for lumps because the breasts become
sore and tender and may also be "lumpy" a week prior to the cycle.
Answer 2 is incorrect because the week after a woman's cycle is the best time to do the examination,
and the shower allows for ease of palpation.
Answer 3 in incorrect because a clock-like sequence is the proper way to perform a BSE.
Answer 4 is incorrect because under the arms houses lymph nodes and the axillary tail of Spence, which
is a common site for breast cancer.
A pregnant woman who has breast implants asks the nurse if she can still breastfeed. What is the
nurse's best response?
A. "You should not have any problems breast feeding because your implants do not affect milk
production."
B. "When the breast implants are inserted they usually affect the milk glands, and breastfeeding is not
possible."
C. "This would depend on which type of implants were placed and which procedure was used by the
surgeon. Check with your surgeon to see if your milk production will be affected."
C
Milk production may vary depending on the procedure. Many women can still breastfeed after breast
augmentation. The surgeon would be able to determine this ability.
Answers 1 and 2 are incorrect because they may not be true. Only the surgeon can determine if milk
production will be affected.
Statement by the patient would indicate a need for further teaching?
A. "The best time to check my breasts is a week before my cycle."
B. "I will check my breasts in the shower one week after my cycle."
C. "I will exam my breast in a clock-like sequence so that I don't miss any surface area."
D. "I will be sure to check my arm pits."
A
The week before a woman's cycle is not the best time to check for lumps because the breasts become
sore and tender and may also be "lumpy" a week prior to the cycle.
Answer 2 is incorrect because the week after a woman's cycle is the best time to do the examination,
,and the shower allows for ease of palpation.
Answer 3 in incorrect because a clock-like sequence is the proper way to perform a BSE.
Answer 4 is incorrect because under the arms houses lymph nodes and the axillary tail of Spence, which
is a common site for breast cancer.
A pregnant woman who has breast implants asks the nurse if she can still breastfeed. What is the
nurse's best response?
A. "You should not have any problems breast feeding because your implants do not affect milk
production."
B. "When the breast implants are inserted they usually affect the milk glands, and breastfeeding is not
possible."
C. "This would depend on which type of implants were placed and which procedure was used by the
surgeon. Check with your surgeon to see if your milk production will be affected."
C
Milk production may vary depending on the procedure. Many women can still breastfeed after breast
augmentation. The surgeon would be able to determine this ability.
Answers 1 and 2 are incorrect because they may not be true. Only the surgeon can determine if milk
production will be affected.
Which of the following statements is true regarding the internal structures of the breast? The breast is:
A)mainly muscle, with very little fibrous tissue.
B)composed of fibrous, glandular, and adipose tissue.
C)composed mostly of milk ducts, known as lactiferous ducts.
D)composed of glandular tissue, which supports the breast by attaching to the chest wall.
ANS: B
The breast is composed of glandular tissue, fibrous tissue (including the suspensory ligaments), and
adipose tissue.
In performing a breast examination, the nurse knows that it is especially important to examine the
upper outer quadrant of the breast. The reason for this is that the upper outer quadrant is:
A)the largest quadrant of the breast.
B)the location of most breast tumors.
C)where most of the suspensory ligaments attach.
D)more prone to injury and calcifications than other locations in the breast.
ANS: B
The upper outer quadrant is the site of most breast tumors. In the upper outer quadrant, the nurse
should notice the axillary tail of Spence, the cone-shaped breast tissue that projects up into the axilla,
close to the pectoral group of axillary lymph nodes.
In performing an assessment of a woman's axillary lymph system, the nurse should assess which of
these nodes?
A)Central, axillary, lateral, and sternal nodes
B)Pectoral, lateral, anterior, and sternal nodes
,C)Central, lateral, pectoral, and subscapular nodes
D)Lateral, pectoral, axillary, and suprascapular nodes
ANS: C
The breast has extensive lymphatic drainage. Four groups of axillary nodes are present: (1) central, (2)
pectoral (anterior), (3) subscapular (posterior), and (4) lateral.
If a patient reports a recent breast infection, then the nurse should expect to find _____ node
enlargement.
A)nonspecific
B)ipsilateral axillary
C)contralateral axillary
D)inguinal and cervical
ANS: B
The breast has extensive lymphatic drainage. Most of the lymph, more than 75%, drains into the
ipsilateral, or same side, axillary nodes.
A 9-year-old girl is in the clinic for a sports physical. 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:
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."
ANS: D
Adolescent breast development usually begins between 8 and 10 years of age. The nurse should not
belittle the girl's feelings by using statements like "don't worry" or by sharing personal experiences. The
beginning of breast development precedes menarche by about 2 years.
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?
A)Tell the mother that breast development is usually fairly symmetric and she should be examined right
away.
B)Tell the mother that she should bring her daughter in right away because breast cancer is fairly
common in preadolescent girls.
C)Tell the mother that, although an examination of her daughter would rule out a problem, it is most
likely normal breast development.
D)Tell the mother that it is unusual for breasts that are first developing to feel tender because they
haven't developed much fibrous tissue.
, ANS: C
Occasionally one breast may grow faster than the other, producing a temporary asymmetry. This may
cause some distress; reassurance is necessary. Tenderness is common also.
A 14-year-old girl is anxious about not having reached menarche. When taking the history, the nurse
should ascertain which of the following? The age:
A)she began to develop breasts
B)her mother developed breasts
C)she began to develop pubic hair
D)she began to develop axillary hair.
ANS: A
Full development from stage 2 to stage 5 takes an average of 3 years, although the range is 1.5 to 6
years. Pubic hair develops during this time, and axillary hair appears 2 years after the onset of pubic hair.
The beginning of breast development precedes menarche by about 2 years. Menarche occurs in breast
development stage 3 or 4, usually just after the peak of the adolescent growth spurt, which occurs
around age 12 years. See Figure 17-6.
A woman is in the family planning clinic seeking birth control information. She states that her breasts
"change all month long" and that she is worried that this is unusual. What is the nurse's best
response?
A)Tell her that it is unusual. The breasts of nonpregnant females usually stay pretty much the same all
month long.
B)Tell her that it is very common for breasts to change in response to stress and that she should assess
her life for stressful events.
C)Tell her that, because of the changing hormones during the monthly menstrual cycle, cyclic breast
changes are common.
D)Tell her that breast changes normally occur only during pregnancy and that a pregnancy test is needed
at this time.
ANS: C
Breasts of the nonpregnant woman change with the ebb and flow of hormones during the monthly
menstrual cycle. During the 3 to 4 days before menstruation, the breasts feel full, tight, heavy, and
occasionally sore. The breast volume is smallest on days 4 to 7 of the menstrual cycle.
A woman has just learned that she is pregnant. What are some things the nurse should teach her
about her breasts?
A)She can expect her areolae to become larger and darker in color.
B)Breasts may begin secreting milk after the fourth month of pregnancy.
C)She should inspect her breasts for visible veins and report this immediately.
D)During pregnancy, breast changes are fairly uncommon; most of the changes occur after the birth.
ANS: A
The areolae become larger and grow a darker brown as pregnancy progresses, and the tubercles become
more prominent. (The brown color fades after lactation, but the areolae never return to the original
color). A venous pattern is prominent over the skin surface and does not need to be reported as it is an
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