The nurse is preparing to conduct an abdominal assessment for a client who is denying abdominal pain. Which assessment will the nurse perform first?
1. Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds.
2. Palpate the abdomen for masses or tenderness.
3. Palpate for hernias.
4. Percuss the abdomen in all quadrants.
Correct Answer: 1
When conducting an abdominal assessment, the nurse will inspect, auscultate, palpate, and then percuss. Therefore, the first action by the nurse is to auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds.
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