The nurse is caring for a patient who underwent abdominal surgery 24 hours ago and has a nasogastric tube for intermittent suction.How should the nurse proceed when performing an abdominal assessment on this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sound of suction attached to a nasogastric tube can be mistaken for bowel sounds; therefore,the nurse should discontinue the suction or clamp off the tube while auscultating bowel sounds.Light palpation can be performed in the postoperative patient.The nurse should listen for bowel sounds for at least 5 minutes before determining that they are absent.Auscultation should be performed before percussion in examining the abdomen.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Underwent Abdominal