Deck 48: Nursing Management: Breast Disorders

Question 1

A 58-year-old woman tells the nurse,"I understand that I have stage II breast cancer and I need to decide on a surgery,but I feel overwhelmed.What do you think I should do?" Which response by the nurse is best?

A) "I would have a lumpectomy, but you need to decide what is best for you."
B) "Tell me what you understand about the surgical options that are available."
C) "It would not be appropriate for me to make a decision about your health."
D) "There is no need to make a decision rapidly; you have time to think about this."

Answer 1

"Tell me what you understand about the surgical options that are available."

Question 2

Which nursing action should be included in the plan of care for a patient returning to the surgical unit following a left modified radical mastectomy with dissection of axillary lymph nodes?

A) Obtain a permanent breast prosthesis before the patient is discharged from the hospital.
B) Teach the patient to use the ordered patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) every 10 minutes.
C) Post a sign at the bedside warning against venipunctures or blood pressures in the left arm.
D) Insist that the patient examine the surgical incision when the initial dressings are removed.

Answer 2

Post a sign at the bedside warning against venipunctures or blood pressures in the left arm.

Question 3

After a 48-year-old patient has had a modified radical mastectomy,the pathology report identifies the tumor as an estrogen-receptor positive adenocarcinoma.The nurse will plan to teach the patient about

A) estradiol (Estrace).
B) raloxifene (Evista).
C) tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
D) trastuzumab (Herceptin).

Answer 3

tamoxifen (Nolvadex).

Question 4

A 51-year-old patient with a small immobile breast lump is considering having a fine-needle aspiration (FNA)biopsy.The nurse explains that an advantage to this procedure is that

A) FNA is done in the outpatient clinic and results are available in 1 to 2 days.
B) only a small incision is needed, resulting in minimal breast pain and scarring.
C) if the biopsy results are negative, no further diagnostic testing will be needed.
D) FNA is guided by a mammogram, ensuring that cells are taken from the lesion.

Question 5

The nurse will anticipate teaching a 56-year-old patient who is diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)about

A) lumpectomy.
B) lymphatic mapping.
C) MammaPrint testing.
D) tamoxifen (Nolvadex).

Question 6

The nurse is providing preoperative teaching about the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM)procedure to a patient.Which information will the nurse include?

A) Saline-filled implants are placed under the pectoral muscles.
B) Recovery from the TRAM surgery takes at least 6 to 8 weeks.
C) Muscle tissue removed from the back is used to form a breast.
D) TRAM flap procedures may be done in outpatient surgery centers.

Question 7

Which information should the nurse include in teaching a patient who is scheduled for external beam radiation to the breast?

A) The radiation therapy will take a week to complete.
B) Careful skin care in the radiated area will be necessary.
C) Visitors are restricted until the radiation therapy is completed.
D) Wigs may be used until the hair regrows after radiation therapy.

Question 8

The nurse provides discharge teaching for a 61-year-old patient who has had a left modified radical mastectomy and lymph node dissection.Which statement by the patient indicates that teaching has been successful?

A) "I will need to use my right arm and to rest the left one."
B) "I will avoid reaching over the stove with my left hand."
C) "I will keep my left arm in a sling until the incision is healed."
D) "I will stop the left arm exercises if moving the arm is painful."

Question 9

The nurse will teach a patient with metastatic breast cancer who has a new prescription for trastuzumab (Herceptin)that

A) hot flashes may occur with the medication.
B) serum electrolyte levels will be drawn monthly.
C) the patient will need frequent eye examinations.
D) the patient should call if she notices ankle swelling.

Question 10

The nurse teaching a young women's community service group about breast self-examination (BSE)will include that

A) BSE will reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.
B) BSE should be done daily while taking a bath or shower.
C) annual mammograms should be scheduled in addition to BSE.
D) performing BSE after the menstrual period is more comfortable.

Question 11

Which information will the nurse include in patient teaching for a 36-year-old patient who is scheduled for stereotactic core biopsy of the breast?

A) A local anesthetic will be given before the biopsy specimen is obtained.
B) You will need to lie flat on your back and lie very still during the biopsy.
C) A thin needle will be inserted into the lump and aspirated to remove tissue.
D) You should not have anything to eat or drink for 6 hours before the procedure.

Question 12

A patient newly diagnosed with stage I breast cancer is discussing treatment options with the nurse.Which statement by the patient indicates that additional teaching may be needed?

A) "There are several options that I can consider for treating the cancer."
B) "I will probably need radiation to the breast after having the surgery."
C) "Mastectomy is the best choice to decrease the chance of cancer recurrence."
D) "I can probably have reconstructive surgery at the same time as a mastectomy."

Question 13

A 33-year-old patient has a saline breast implant inserted in the outpatient surgery area.Which instruction will the nurse include in the discharge teaching?

A) Take aspirin every 4 hours to reduce inflammation.
B) Check wound drains for excessive blood or a foul odor.
C) Wear a loose-fitting bra to decrease irritation of the sutures.
D) Resume normal activities 2 to 3 days after the mammoplasty.

Question 14

When the nurse is working in the women's health care clinic,which action is appropriate to take?

A) Teach a healthy 30-year-old about the need for an annual mammogram.
B) Discuss scheduling an annual clinical breast examination with a 22-year-old.
C) Explain to a 60-year-old that mammography frequency can be reduced to every 3 years.
D) Teach a 28-year-old with a BRCA-1 mutation about magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Question 15

A 53-year-old woman at menopause is discussing the use of hormone therapy (HT)with the nurse.Which information about the risk of breast cancer will the nurse provide?

A) HT is a safe therapy for menopausal symptoms if there is no family history of BRCA genes.
B) HT does not appear to increase the risk for breast cancer unless there are other risk factors.
C) The patient and her health care provider must weigh the benefits of HT against the risks of breast cancer.
D) Natural herbs are as effective as estrogen in relieving symptoms without increasing the risk of breast cancer.

Question 16

During a well woman physical exam,a 43-year-old patient asks about her risk for breast cancer.Which question is most pertinent for the nurse to ask?

A) "Do you currently smoke tobacco?"
B) "Have you ever had a breast injury?"
C) "At what age did you start having menstrual periods?"
D) "Is there a family history of fibrocystic breast changes?"

Question 17

Which assessment finding in a 36-year-old patient is most indicative of a need for further evaluation?

A) Bilateral breast nodules that are tender with palpation
B) A breast nodule that is 1 cm in size, nontender, and fixed
C) A breast lump that increases in size before the menstrual period
D) A breast lump that is small, mobile, with a rubbery consistency

Question 18

A student nurse prepares a list of teaching topics for a patient with a new diagnosis of breast cancer.Which item should the charge nurse suggest that the student nurse omit from the teaching topic list about breast cancer diagnostic testing?

A) CA 15-3 level testing
B) HER-2 receptor testing
C) Estrogen receptor testing
D) Oncotype DX assay testing

Question 19

Which patient statement indicates that the nurse's teaching about tamoxifen (Nolvadex)has been effective?

A) "I can expect to have leg cramps."
B) "I will call if I have any eye problems."
C) "I should contact you if I have hot flashes."
D) "I will be taking the medication for 6 to 12 months."

Question 20

The nurse is admitting a patient scheduled this morning for lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection.Which action should the nurse take first?

A) Teach the patient how to deep breathe and cough.
B) Discuss options for postoperative pain management.
C) Explain the postdischarge care of the axillary drains.
D) Ask the patient to describe what she knows about the surgery.

Question 21

A patient who is scheduled for a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection tells the nurse,"I would rather not know much about the surgery." Which response by the nurse is best?

A) "Tell me what you think is important to know about the surgery."
B) "It is essential that you know enough to provide informed consent."
C) "Many patients do better after surgery if they have more information."
D) "You can wait until after surgery for teaching about pain management."

Question 22

The outpatient clinic receives telephone calls from four patients.Which patient should the nurse call back first?

A) 57-year-old with ductal ectasia who has sticky multicolored nipple discharge and severe nipple itching
B) 21-year-old with a family history of breast cancer who wants to discuss genetic testing for the BRCA gene
C) 40-year-old who still has left side chest and arm pain 2 months after a left modified radical mastectomy
D) 50-year-old with stage 2 breast cancer who is receiving doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and has ankle swelling and fatigue

Question 23

The nurse notes bilateral enlargement of the breasts during examination of a 62-year-old man.Which action should the nurse take first?

A) Teach the patient how to palpate the breast tissue for lumps.
B) Question the patient about medications being currently used.
C) Refer the patient for mammography and biopsy of the breast tissue.
D) Explain that this is a temporary condition due to hormonal changes.

Question 24

The nurse is caring for a 52-year-old patient with breast cancer who is receiving chemotherapy with doxorubicin (Adriamycin)and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).Which assessment finding is most important to communicate to the health care provider?

A) The patient complains of fatigue.
B) The patient eats only 25% of meals.
C) The patient's apical pulse is irregular.
D) The patient's white blood cell (WBC) count is 5000/µL.

Question 25

A patient has had left-sided lumpectomy (breast-conservation surgery)and an axillary lymph node dissection.Which nursing intervention is appropriate to delegate to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

A) Teaching the patient how to avoid injury to the left arm
B) Assessing the patient's range of motion for the left arm
C) Evaluating the patient's understanding of instructions about drain care
D) Administering an analgesic 30 minutes before scheduled arm exercises

Question 26

A 36-year-old who has a diagnosis of fibrocystic breast changes calls the nurse in the clinic with symptoms.Which is most important to report to the health care provider?

A) There is yellow-green discharge from the patient's right nipple.
B) There is an area on the breast that is hot, pink, and tender to touch.
C) The lumps are firm and most are in the upper outer breast quadrants.
D) The lumps are larger and painful before the patient's menstrual period.

Question 27

Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with right arm lymphedema?

A) Check blood pressure (BP) on both right and left arms.
B) Avoid isometric exercise on the right arm.
C) Assist with application of a compression sleeve.
D) Keep the right arm at or below the level of the heart.

Question 28

When using the accompanying illustration to teach a patient about breast self-examination,the nurse will include the information that most breast cancers are located in which part of the breast?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5