During the abdominal assessment of an elderly patient, the nurse palpates a mass in the mid-abdomen. Which of the following should the nurse do next?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Auscultation is the appropriate next step after palpating a mass in the abdomen. This allows the nurse to assess for bowel sounds or vascular sounds such as bruits, which can provide important information about the nature of the mass. Percussion, asking the patient to cough, or getting the physician are not immediate next steps before further assessment is done.

During the Abdominal Assessment of an Elderly Patient, the Nurse