A client reports pain in the lower right abdomen. The nurse uses their fingertips to gently press on the area to assess for tenderness and guarding. Which assessment technique is being used?

Choice A reason: Auscultation involves using a stethoscope to listen to internal body sounds, such as bowel motility, bruits, or heart murmurs. It is not the technique used when a nurse applies physical pressure with the fingertips to the abdominal wall to elicit a response or assess tissue density. Choice B reason: Palpation is the clinical assessment technique that utilizes the sense of touch to determine the characteristics of body parts under the skin. By using the fingertips to apply light or deep pressure, the nurse can identify organ location, size, abnormal masses, and areas of tenderness or guarding. Choice C reason: Inspection is the initial step of the physical examination, relying solely on visual observation. It involves looking at the client’s abdominal contour, skin integrity, and symmetrical movement without physical contact. Pressing on the abdomen exceeds the scope of visual inspection and moves into tactile assessment. Choice D reason: Percussion is a technique where the nurse taps the body surface with sharp, short strokes to produce audible vibrations. These sounds help determine the density of underlying structures, such as identifying fluid-filled versus air-filled spaces, which differs from the steady pressure applied during digital palpation.