A nurse is planning to collect data about the abdomen of a client who reports "stomach pain". Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Inspect: The first step in abdominal assessment is inspection, which allows the nurse to observe color, contour, distention, and visible lesions without disturbing underlying structures. Inspection is non-invasive and does not alter bowel sounds. B. Palpate: Palpation should be performed after auscultation because touching the abdomen can stimulate or alter bowel sounds, potentially skewing data. C. Percuss: Percussion is performed after inspection and auscultation, as it provides information about fluid, air, and organ size, but it is not the first step. D. Auscultate: Auscultation is done after inspection in standard abdominal assessment to evaluate bowel sounds. Inspection first ensures the nurse notes visible abnormalities before applying pressure.