The nurse is preparing to assess a patient who reports abdominal pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. To best facilitate the abdominal assessment, what nursing action is indicated?
1. First medicate the patient for the pain.
2. Palpate the patient's abdomen last.
3. Assist the patient into the knees-bent supine position.
4. Encourage the patient to take slow, deep breaths.
3
Rationale 1: Medication for pain may not be prescribed if the cause of the pain is still undetermined.
Rationale 2: Palpation of the abdomen may cause pain and should be performed last, but the patient is already experiencing pain, so palpation will not have as much impact on the assessment as will another action.
Rationale 3: The nurse should work with the patient in establishing a comfortable position. This will make the examination more productive and help the patient to be cooperative during the procedure. The knees-bent supine position is often more comfortable than lying flat on the back.
Rationale 4: Slow, deep breathing may help the patient manage the pain, but it would not have the same impact on the assessment as another action.
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