A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment as part of a client’s comprehensive physical examination. Which of the following is the final step the nurse should perform?

Percussion

Auscultation

Palpation

Inspection

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Percussion precedes palpation to assess abdominal resonance and organ size without altering bowel motility. Performing it last risks inaccurate findings, as palpation may stimulate peristalsis, changing resonance patterns. This sequence ensures reliable detection of abnormalities like organomegaly or fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Choice B reason: Auscultation is done before palpation to capture natural bowel sounds. Manipulation during palpation can alter peristalsis, affecting auscultatory findings. Early auscultation ensures accurate detection of hypoactive or hyperactive bowel sounds, critical for diagnosing conditions like ileus or obstruction in abdominal assessments.
Choice C reason: Palpation is the final step, following inspection, auscultation, and percussion, to assess for tenderness or masses. This sequence prevents manipulation from altering earlier findings, ensuring accurate identification of abdominal abnormalities like peritonitis or organ enlargement, critical for a comprehensive physical examination.
Choice D reason: Inspection is the first step, providing a visual baseline of abdominal appearance, such as distension or scars. Performing it last misses initial cues guiding subsequent steps. Early inspection ensures no manipulation affects visual assessment, vital for identifying external signs of underlying abdominal pathology.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Ritualistic behavior is linked to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, not narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). NPD involves self-focused grandiosity, not repetitive rituals driven by anxiety. These distinct psychological mechanisms make ritualistic behavior an unlikely finding in clients with NPD during assessment.
Choice B reason: Suspiciousness is characteristic of paranoid personality disorder, not NPD. While NPD clients may distrust due to ego threats, this is secondary to their grandiose self-view. Suspicion is not a core NPD trait, as their focus is on admiration, not pervasive mistrust.
Choice C reason: Preoccupation with aging is not a primary NPD feature. NPD clients focus on idealized self-image, but aging fears are more tied to body dysmorphic disorder or general anxiety. This preoccupation is not a diagnostic criterion for NPD in psychological assessments.
Choice D reason: A grandiose sense of self is a core NPD feature, marked by exaggerated self-importance and entitlement. Driven by fragile self-esteem, this trait leads to behaviors like boasting, as defined in DSM-5 criteria, making it an expected finding during assessment of NPD clients.

A. Experiencing delusions B. A history of being in prison C. A history of violent behavior D. Substance use disorder

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Experiencing delusions can contribute to agitation, but it is not the strongest predictor of violence. Delusions may lead to unpredictable behavior, but past actions are more reliable indicators, so this factor is less definitive, making it incorrect.
Choice B reason: A history of being in prison indicates past legal issues but not necessarily violent behavior. Incarceration alone is not a direct predictor of future violence, so this factor is less reliable than actual violent history, making it incorrect.
Choice C reason: A history of violent behavior is the best predictor of future violence, as past actions strongly correlate with recurrence, per evidence-based risk assessments. This reliable indicator guides safety planning, making it the correct factor to emphasize in teaching.
Choice D reason: Substance use disorder increases impulsivity and aggression risk, but it is less predictive than a documented history of violence. Substance use is a contributing factor, not the strongest indicator, so this is incorrect compared to past behavior.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment as part of a client’s comprehensive physical examination. Which of the following is the final step the nurse should perform?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who has narcissistic personality disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A charge nurse is teaching new staff members about factors that increase a client’s risk to become violent. Which of the following risk factors should the nurse include as the best predictor of future violence?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse working on a surgical unit is developing a care plan for a client who has paraplegia. The client has an area of nonblanchable erythema over his ischium. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the care plan?

A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a male client who has schizophrenia and is taking clozapine. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a contraindication to the administration of clozapine?

A charge nurse is mentoring a newly licensed nurse about ergonomic principles. Which of the following should the charge nurse include when teaching about ergonomic principles?

A nurse is planning care for a male client who is postoperative following a hernia repair. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan?

A nurse is talking with the parents of a 2-month-old infant who have chosen to not immunize the infant. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A nurse is caring for a client who has experienced a stillbirth. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for warfarin. Which of the following findings requires a referral for further care?

A nurse is caring for an infant who has coarctation of the aorta. Which of the following should the nurse identify as an expected finding?