Question

A young sexually active client at the family planning clinic is advised to have a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. She has never had a Pap smear before. What should the nurse include in the explanation of this procedure?

A. Pap smears can detect cancer of the cervix
B. Vaginal bleeding is expected after a Pap smear
C. Colposcopy will be used to visualize the cervix
D. Scraping the cervix is the most uncomfortable part

Answer 1

A Pap smear is a procedure used to detect cancer of the cervix by examining cells from the cervix. It involves using a speculum and taking a small tissue sample to be examined under a microscope for abnormal cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Pap smear is a procedure used to detect cancer of the cervix. During the procedure, the patient lies on an examining table with their feet in stirrups. A speculum is inserted into the vagina to access the cervix, and a small amount of tissue is brushed off and smeared onto a microscope slide. The slide is then examined for abnormal cells which could indicate cervical cancer.