Asked by Brandon Mcgee on Jul 26, 2024
Verified
Which of these clinical situations would the nurse consider to be outside normal limits?
A) A patient has had one pregnancy and states that she believes she may be entering menopause. Her breast examination reveals breasts that are soft and slightly sagging.
B) A patient has never been pregnant. Her breast examination reveals large pendulous breasts that have a firm, transverse ridge along the lower quadrant in both breasts.
C) A patient has never been pregnant and reports that she should begin her period tomorrow. Her breast examination reveals breast tissue that is nodular and somewhat engorged. She states that the examination was slightly painful.
D) A patient has had two pregnancies, and she breastfed both of her children. Her youngest child is now 10 years old. Her breast examination reveals breast tissue that is somewhat soft, and she has a small amount of thick yellow discharge from both nipples.
Transverse Ridge
A horizontal line or crest formed by the union of two surfaces, often seen in bones or on the palatal surface of the mouth.
Pendulous Breasts
Breasts that hang down more significantly due to their size, weight, or loss of skin elasticity, often associated with aging, pregnancy, or significant weight changes.
Nodular
Characterized by nodules, which are small swelling or aggregation of cells in the body, often indicating an underlying condition.
- Identify normal and abnormal breast examination findings.
Verified Answer
MM
Manpreet MiddaJul 28, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
If any discharge appears, the nurse should note its color and consistency. Except in pregnancy and lactation, any discharge is abnormal. In nulliparous women, normal breast tissue feels firm, smooth, and elastic; after pregnancy, the tissue feels soft and loose. Premenstrual engorgement is normal, and consists of a slight enlargement, tenderness to palpation, and a generalized nodularity. A firm, transverse ridge of compressed tissue in the lower quadrants, known as the inframammary ridge, is especially noticeable in large breasts.
Learning Objectives
- Identify normal and abnormal breast examination findings.