A nurse is completing an assessment on a 39-year-old client that complains of epigastric abdominal pain. Inspection of the abdomen is complete. What should the nurse do next?

Choice A reason: Light palpation is part of the abdominal assessment but should not be performed immediately after inspection. Palpation can alter bowel sounds, which must be assessed before any manipulation of the abdomen. Therefore, this step is premature. Choice B reason: Auscultation is the correct next step after inspection in an abdominal assessment. This is because palpation or percussion can stimulate or alter bowel sounds, leading to inaccurate findings. By auscultating first, the nurse ensures an accurate assessment of bowel sounds, vascular sounds, and overall gastrointestinal activity. This is the correct answer. Choice C reason: Deep palpation is performed later in the abdominal exam to assess for organ size, masses, or tenderness. It should not be done before auscultation because it can interfere with bowel sounds. Thus, this option is incorrect at this stage. Choice D reason: Percussion is also part of the abdominal exam but comes after auscultation. It helps assess for fluid, air, or solid masses. However, performing percussion before auscultation would risk altering bowel sounds. Therefore, this option is incorrect.