The nurse is preparing to assess a client who reports abdominal pain of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. In order to best facilitate the abdominal assessment, the nurse:
1. Assists the client into the knees-bent supine position.
2. First medicates the client for the pain.
3. Encourages the client to take slow, deep breaths.
4. Palpates the client's abdomen last.
Assists the client into the knees-bent supine position.
Rationale: The nurse should work with the patient in establishing a comfortable position for the patient; this will make the examination more productive for both of them and allow for the client to be cooperative during the procedure. The knees-bent supine position is often more comfortable than lying flat on the back. Medication for pain may not be prescribed if the cause of the pain is still undetermined. Slow, deep breathing may help the client manage the pain, but it will not have the same impact on the assessment as comfortable positioning. Palpation of the abdomen may cause pain and should be performed last, but the client is already experiencing pain, so palpation will not have as much impact on the assessment as will comfortable positioning.
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