A patient you are caring for is going to have gastric surgery in the morning. It is important for you to assess the patient's nutritional status as well as assessing for the presence of bowel sounds. Why would you palpate the abdomen?

Question

A) To assess for Sister Joseph's nodule
B) To assess for appendicitis
C) To detect masses
D) To detect rigidity

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback: The nurse assesses for the presence of bowel sounds and palpates the abdomen to detect masses or tenderness. The scenario does not indicate the patient has cancer, so the nurse would not be assessing for Sister Joseph's nodule. It would not be necessary to assess for appendicitis on a patient scheduled for gastric surgery. Rigidity of the abdomen is an indication of an emergent condition requiring surgery; you would not assess for rigidity in a patient already scheduled for gastric surgery.