A nurse is teaching a group of teen women. Which should the nurse discuss as the risk factor most associated with cervical cancer?

Choice A reason: Gloves reduce transmission but are not sufficient alone; improper use can spread microbes. Hand washing before and after patient contact is the most effective, universal method, so this is incorrect.

Choice B reason: Hand washing before and after patient contact is the most critical step to prevent microorganism transmission, as it removes pathogens from hands, the primary vector. This is the gold standard, making it correct.

Choice C reason: Cleaning the stethoscope is important but secondary to hand washing, which addresses the most common transmission route. Hands contact patients directly, so this is incorrect as the most important step.

Choice D reason: Protective eyewear prevents specific exposures but doesn’t address general microbial spread. Hand washing is the most effective, routine prevention method, so this is incorrect for the primary step.

Choice A reason: Large, fixed lymph nodes suggest pathology, such as malignancy or chronic infection, as they indicate adherence to surrounding tissues. In healthy adults, lymph nodes are typically small and not fixed, making this an abnormal and incorrect characteristic.

Choice B reason: Large, non-mobile lymph nodes may indicate infection or malignancy, as healthy nodes are usually small and mobile. Non-mobility suggests tissue infiltration, which is pathological, making this an incorrect description of normal lymph node characteristics.

Choice C reason: Granular texture is not a standard term for describing lymph nodes. Healthy nodes, when palpable, feel smooth and soft. Granular suggests abnormality, possibly infection or malignancy, making this an inaccurate characteristic for healthy lymph nodes.

Choice D reason: In healthy adults, lymph nodes are typically not palpable, as they are small, soft, and non-tender, blending into surrounding tissues. Palpable nodes often indicate inflammation or pathology, making this the correct description of a normal finding.