Practice Question
The nurse performs an abdominal exam. Which sequence demonstrates correct assessment order?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale:
🌟 The abdomen is assessed in this sequence to prevent altering bowel sounds, which can occur if palpation or percussion is done too early.
🌟 Inspection is always first because it allows visual assessment of contour, symmetry, and skin changes without disturbing the abdomen.
🌟 Auscultation comes second to avoid stimulating peristalsis and giving false bowel sound findings.
🌟 Percussion follows and allows assessment of organ size, fluid, and gas patterns.
🌟 Palpation is last because it can cause tenderness, guarding, or changes in bowel activity, which would interfere with earlier steps.
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
🌟 Palpation should never occur before auscultation because it can stimulate peristalsis and lead to inaccurate bowel sound assessment.
🌟 This sequence disrupts correct abdominal exam technique by altering normal findings.
🌟 Performing palpation early may also increase the patient’s discomfort or guarding, affecting accuracy.
🌟 Auscultation should always come before palpation, not last.
🌟 Therefore, this option demonstrates incorrect abdominal assessment order.
Palpation, Auscultation, Percussion, Inspection
🌟 Beginning with palpation is incorrect and may cause pain, muscle tension, and changes in bowel motility.
🌟 Auscultation placed after palpation gives false readings due to stimulated bowel activity.
🌟 Inspection must always occur first in any assessment but here appears last, making the sequence invalid.
🌟 This order fails to follow standard nursing assessment protocol.
🌟 Therefore, this option is unsafe and inaccurate.
Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
🌟 Inspecting after auscultation is incorrect because observation should occur before any physical contact.
🌟 Palpation still occurs too early and will affect bowel sound assessment if auscultation is repeated.
🌟 Percussion should always come before deep palpation, but the order is still disorganized here.
🌟 The sequence does not follow evidence-based abdominal exam guidelines.
🌟 Thus, this option is not acceptable for proper abdominal assessment.
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This question is from Examplify NR304_Quiz 2_NOV25 which contains 10 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
The nurse is going to assess the abdomen of an adult client. What should be done first?
Answer Choices:
For which time period would the nurse conclude that the client had no bowel sounds?
Answer Choices:
During palpation of the abdomen, the client reports pain in the right lower quadrant. The nurse interprets that this finding could indicate a problem with which of these structures?
Answer Choices:
A nurse auscultates the abdomen and hears high-pitched, rushing, tinkling sounds. The patient reports cramping. Which condition is most consistent with these findings?
Answer Choices:
Which cues does the nurse use light palpation to assess for?
Answer Choices:
Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: Examplify Exam(s)
- Domain: Health Assessment
- Answer Choices: 4