The nurse is teaching a group of premenopausal women how to conduct self-breast exams. The nurse should instruct the women to perform self-breast exams

  1. on the first day of the menstrual cycle.
  2. one week after the menstrual cycle.
  3. immediately after the menstrual cycle.
  4. on the first day of every month.
Number 3 is correct.
Rationale: Premenopausal women should conduct self-breast exams immediately after their menstrual cycle ends because this is the time the breasts are least tender. If a woman is prone to fibrocystic breast changes, they will be less pronounced immediately after menses.