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?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assisting the patient into the knees-bent supine position will help to relax the abdominal muscles and facilitate a thorough abdominal assessment. Palpation should be done before percussion or auscultation to prevent stimulating bowel sounds or altering the contour or consistency of the abdomen. Medicating for pain should not be the first action taken, as it may interfere with accurate assessment of the location, quality, and intensity of the pain. Encouraging the patient to take slow, deep breaths may be helpful, but it is not the most important action to facilitate an abdominal assessment.

The Nurse Is Preparing to Assess a Patient Who Reports