The nurse leading an educational session is describing self-examination of the breast. The nurse tells the women's group to raise their arms and inspect their breasts in a mirror

Question

A member of the women's group asks the nurse why raising her arms is necessary. What is the nurse's best response?
A) "It helps to spread out the fat that makes up your breast."
B) "It allows you to simultaneously assess for pain."
C) "It will help to observe for dimpling more closely."
D) "This is what the American Cancer Society recommends."

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
The primary reason for raising the arms is to detect any dimpling. To elicit skin dimpling or retraction that may otherwise go undetected, the examiner instructs the patient to raise both arms overhead. Citing American Cancer Society recommendations does not address the woman's question. The purpose of raising the arms is not to elicit pain or to redistribute adipose tissue.