Free Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN®) Test Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN®) Test practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A breastfeeding patient has a warm, tender, erythematous breast and a fever. The nurse recognizes that an obstructed or infected milk duct is associated with which benign condition?

   1. A. Fat necrosis
   2. B. Mastitis
   3. C. Fibroadenoma
   4. D. Duct ectasia

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI states, "It's caused when a breast duct (also called a milk duct) becomes blocked or infected." This description of mastitis fits the lactation-associated inflammatory symptoms.

   Reference: Benign Breast Changes — National Cancer Institute — Breast lumps and conditions that do not increase breast cancer risk — Mastitis

2. 2A nurse explains how an activated growth-promoting gene can contribute to breast carcinogenesis. Which gene category results when a proto-oncogene becomes abnormally active?

   1. A. Oncogene
   2. B. Tumor suppressor gene
   3. C. DNA repair gene
   4. D. Housekeeping gene

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NCI states that altered or overactive proto-oncogenes "may become cancer-causing genes (or oncogenes)". This is gain of growth-promoting activity.

   Reference: What Is Cancer? — National Cancer Institute — Types of Genes that Cause Cancer — Proto-oncogenes

3. 3A surgeon removes a localized breast tumor with a surrounding margin of healthy tissue while preserving most of the breast. Which operation is this?

   1. A. Lumpectomy
   2. B. Total mastectomy
   3. C. Modified radical mastectomy
   4. D. Radical mastectomy

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NCI states that the surgeon removes "the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or breast cancer and some healthy tissue around it." Lumpectomy preserves most breast tissue.

   Reference: Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery) — NCI — Lumpectomy — Definition

4. 4A patient with post-treatment arm lymphedema develops new redness, warmth, tenderness, and fever. Which complication should the nurse suspect and arrange prompt clinical assessment for?

   1. A. Axillary web syndrome
   2. B. Cellulitis
   3. C. Lymphocele
   4. D. Capsular contracture

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI identifies cellulitis as a bacterial skin infection associated with lymphedema and advises, "If you have a fever or other signs of cellulitis, call your doctor right away." The new inflammatory skin changes with fever warrant urgent review.

   Reference: Lymphedema — National Cancer Institute — Lymphedema and cellulitis

5. 5A breast care nurse regularly examines her own assumptions, recognizes the patient's expertise about her own life, and commits to lifelong learning while reducing the power difference in their relationship. Which cultural care concept most specifically describes this approach?

   1. A. Cultural humility
   2. B. Acculturation
   3. C. Assimilation
   4. D. Enculturation

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Under "Practice cultural humility," AHRQ directs clinicians to "Reduce the power differential between healthcare professionals and patients" and to "Commit to being a lifelong learner who values diversity and seeks to make healthcare more equitable." The nurse combines self-reflection, respect for patient expertise, and ongoing learning. The other terms describe processes of acquiring or adapting cultural patterns, rather than this clinical stance.

   Reference: Consider Culture: Tool 10 — AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, 3rd Edition — Actions — Practice cultural humility

6. 6A breast care nurse is distinguishing screening from diagnostic mammography. Which presentation is the intended setting for routine screening mammography?

   1. A. A newly palpable breast lump
   2. B. No breast symptoms or palpable changes
   3. C. New spontaneous nipple discharge
   4. D. Newly developed nipple inversion

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI explains that screening can find tumors "before they cause symptoms." Mammography used to investigate a new lump or other breast change is diagnostic; the symptom-free presentation is the screening setting.

   Reference: Mammograms — National Cancer Institute — What is a mammogram?

7. 7A breast tumor contains cells that continue dividing despite signals that normally trigger programmed cell death. Which process are these cells evading?

   1. A. Angiogenesis
   2. B. Apoptosis
   3. C. Differentiation
   4. D. DNA replication

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NCI identifies programmed cell death as "apoptosis". Evasion permits damaged cells to survive despite death signals.

   Reference: What Is Cancer? — National Cancer Institute — Differences between Cancer Cells and Normal Cells — Death signals

8. 8A woman is being assessed for lumpectomy followed by radiation. Which tumor distribution most supports this option?

   1. A. A small focus relative to breast size in one location
   2. B. A large tumor relative to breast size in multiple locations
   3. C. Diffuse involvement of the breast skin by inflammatory cancer
   4. D. Persistent extensive tumor after unsuccessful margin clearance

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NCI lists cancer that "is small relative to the size of the breast" and "is found in only one place in the breast" as reasons to consider lumpectomy plus radiation. The other patterns favor more extensive surgery.

   Reference: Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery) — NCI — Lumpectomy — Selection criteria

9. 9A patient is fitted for a compression sleeve to manage arm lymphedema. Which effect explains its use?

   1. A. Stimulating capillary filtration into interstitial tissue
   2. B. Lowering plasma oncotic pressure that retains intravascular fluid
   3. C. Helping move lymph fluid and prevent its accumulation
   4. D. Increasing arterial inflow to expand the limb's blood volume

   Answer: C

   Explanation: NCI states that compression garments "can help move fluid around in your arms and legs to prevent it from building up." Proper fitting and instruction are provided by the nurse or lymphedema therapist.

   Reference: Lymphedema — National Cancer Institute — How is lymphedema treated? — Compression garments

10. 10During breast cancer treatment, a patient describes finding inner peace, a sense of purpose, and connection with others through time in nature. She does not belong to an organized religion. Which concept best describes the experience she is discussing?

    1. A. Self-efficacy
    2. B. Resilience
    3. C. Optimism
    4. D. Spirituality

    Answer: D

    Explanation: NCI states, "Spirituality may be defined as an individual's sense of peace, purpose, and connection to others, and beliefs about the meaning of life." This description does not require religious membership. Self-efficacy concerns confidence in one's abilities, resilience concerns adaptation to adversity, and optimism concerns favorable expectations.

    Reference: Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ®)–Patient Version — Spirituality and religion may have different meanings