A Patient with a History of Peptic Ulcer Disease Has

A patient with a history of peptic ulcer disease has presented to the emergency department (ED) in distress. What assessment finding would lead the ED nurse to suspect that the patient has a perforated ulcer?

A) The patient has abdominal bloating that developed rapidly.
B) The patient has a rigid, boardlike abdomen that is tender.
C) The patient is experiencing intense lower right quadrant pain.
D) The patient is experiencing dizziness and confusion with no apparent hemodynamic changes.