When palpating the abdomen to determine a floating mass, a nurse presses on the abdomen at a 90-degree angle with the fingertips. Which finding indicates a mass?
A) An increase in abdominal girth.
B) A complaint from the patient of a dull pain in the flank area.
C) A freely movable mass will float upward and touch the fingertips.
D) Fluid in the abdomen will shift upward and touch the fingertips.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A freely movable mass floating upward and touching the fingertips is the expected finding (ballottement). An increase in abdominal girth does not occur as a result of ballottement. A complaint from the patient of a dull pain in the flank area is not an expected finding. Fluid in the abdomen shifting upward and touching the fingertips does not occur; it is the mass on the abdomen that shifts upward.

When Palpating the Abdomen to Determine a Floating Mass, a Nurse