Which of the following tools or techniques should you plan to use during a breast assessment?

Choice A reason: Palpating tender areas first may cause patient discomfort and guarding, reducing assessment accuracy. Palpation uses the palmar side or finger pads, starting with non-tender areas. Assuming this risks poor technique, potentially missing subtle findings like masses or edema, critical for comprehensive physical assessment in clinical practice.

Choice B reason: Palpation uses the palmar side of the hands or finger pads for light or deep touch to assess texture, tenderness, or masses. This technique ensures sensitivity and accuracy, detecting abnormalities like organ enlargement or fluid accumulation. Proper palpation is essential for thorough physical exams, guiding diagnosis and care planning effectively.

Choice C reason: Short, quick taps define percussion, not palpation, which involves sustained touch to assess underlying structures. Confusing these techniques risks incorrect assessment, missing findings like organ size or tenderness. Palpation’s distinct method using finger pads ensures accurate detection, critical for identifying abnormalities in physical examinations.

Choice D reason: Using a stethoscope is for auscultation, not palpation, which relies on manual touch with finger pads or palms. Assuming stethoscope use misaligns with palpation’s purpose, risking incomplete assessment of tactile findings like masses or swelling, essential for accurate diagnosis and effective patient care planning.

Choice A reason: A blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg is hypotensive, indicating potentially inadequate perfusion to organs, which may result from dehydration, shock, or medication effects. This reading is concerning and requires reporting to the doctor for further evaluation and management to prevent complications like organ failure.

Choice B reason: A blood pressure of 125/68 mmHg is within normal to slightly elevated ranges, not immediately concerning. It does not warrant urgent reporting unless accompanied by symptoms or trends suggesting instability, as it aligns with typical adult values under most clinical guidelines.

Choice C reason: A blood pressure of 144/76 mmHg is elevated but not critical unless persistent or symptomatic. It suggests prehypertension or early hypertension, which may need monitoring but not immediate reporting unless other clinical factors, like symptoms or patient history, indicate urgency.

Choice D reason: A blood pressure of 150/70 mmHg is elevated, indicating possible hypertension, but not an emergency unless accompanied by symptoms like chest pain. It requires monitoring rather than immediate reporting, as it falls short of hypertensive crisis thresholds like 180/120 mmHg.