2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
The nurse, assisting with data collection of the abdomen, inspects the client’s abdomen. Which assessment technique should the nurse perform next?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation is the appropriate next step after inspection when assessing the abdomen. This technique allows the nurse to listen for bowel sounds and vascular sounds, providing crucial information about the gastrointestinal system's function.
Percussion (A) is typically performed after auscultation to assess the size and density of organs. Light palpation (C) follows auscultation and helps identify tenderness or masses, while deep palpation (D) is used later to assess deeper structures. Performing auscultation first ensures that any sounds are not influenced by palpation or percussion, allowing for a more accurate assessment.