Health Assessment Ch. 17 Breasts

During a physical assessment, a teenager tells the nurse, "My left breast is smaller than the right one and it makes me feel self-conscious." How should the nurse respond?

"You shouldn't worry; this is a normal condition."

The nurse is caring for a lactating patient. Which assessment finding indicates the presence of a plugged duct?

A section of the breast appears red and tender.

What is a sign of skin tether in the breast?

The areola seems distorted and has a dimple

What is the proper method to examine large pendulous breasts?

Asking the patient to lean forward while the nurse supports the forearms

What is the marked change in the breast seen in a patient who has reached menopause?

Atrophy of the glandular tissue

What nipple discharge does the nurse expect to find in a patient with early lesions in Paget disease?

Clear, yellow discharge

While teaching a group of patients about breast cancer, which factors does the nurse relate to an increased risk of breast cancer? Select all that apply.

Consumption of alcohol Postmenopausal weight gain Use of canned fish and mayonnaise

Which information should the nurse provide to a lactating patient with a plugged duct?

Ensure complete emptying of the breast.

The nurse is assessing a patient who reports finding a lump in the left breast. Which intervention by the nurse is most appropriate?

Examine the features of the right breast followed by the left breast.

The nurse is teaching a patient about the factors that can decrease the risk for breast cancer. Which foods does the nurse encourage the patient to consume? Select all that apply.

Fruits Vegetables Sunflower oil

The nurse is assessing a patient with large, pendulous breasts for retraction. Which is the best intervention by the nurse?

Instruct the patient to lean forward as the nurse supports the arms.

Where does more than 75% of lymph from the breasts drain?

Ipsilateral axillary nodes

What is a characteristic of fibroadenoma?

It is freely moveable and feels firm and elastic.

The nurse is caring for a patient with cracked nipples due to breastfeeding. What instructions should the nurse provide to the patient?

Keep the area clean, dry, and exposed to the air.

The nurse is caring for a patient with a plugged duct. How much time does it take to resolve this condition if properly treated?

Less than a day

The nurse is assessing a patient in the perimenopausal stage. The patient has itching and burning around the nipple with white purulent discharge. What is the likely diagnosis for this patient?

Mammary duct ectasia

What is the term used by the nurse to describe pain in the breast?

Mastalgia

The nurse is caring for a patient in the second month of lactation. The patient has an inflammatory mass forming outward from the areola and flu-like symptoms. What is the diagnosis for this patient?

Mastitis

The nurse notices edema on the breast skin of a patient that has a "pigskin" look. Which condition does the nurse suspect from this observation?

Peau d'orange

Which assessment finding in a patient may indicate breast cancer?

Presence of a unilateral, dense, irregular mass

The nurse is assessing a patient who reports feeling nodules in the breast. Further assessment reveals that the patient is in the midcycle of menstruation. What is the best intervention by the nurse?

Repeat the examination a week after menstruation.

The nurse is assessing a patient's breasts. Which finding does the nurse identify as abnormal?

The presence of localized redness with heat

Which part of the breast is called the tail of Spence?

The superior lateral corner

Before a breast examination, the nurse asks the patient to lie down and raise her arms. What is the rationale behind this instruction?

To flatten the breast tissue