To palpate the liver during a head-to-toe physical assessment, the nurse
a. places one hand on the patient's back and presses upward and inward with the other hand below the patient's right costal margin.
b. places one hand on top of the other and uses the upper fingers to apply pressure and the bottom fingers to feel for the liver edge.
c. presses slowly and firmly over the right costal margin with one hand and withdraws the fingers quickly after the liver edge is felt.
d. places one hand under the patient's lower ribs and presses the left lower rib cage forward, palpating below the costal margin with the other hand.
ANS: A
The liver is normally not palpable below the costal margin. The nurse needs to push inward below the right costal margin while lifting the patient's back slightly with the left hand. The other methods will not allow palpation of the liver.
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