A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on a child. Identify the sequence the nurse should follow.

A. Inspection: This is the first step as it allows the nurse to gather information through observation without causing discomfort to the child. It involves looking at the child’s abdomen for any visible abnormalities like distension, asymmetry, masses, or discoloration. B. Auscultation: This step follows inspection to assess bowel sounds before any manipulation of the abdomen, which could alter the sounds. The nurse listens for the presence, frequency, and character of bowel sounds. C. Superficial palpation: This step is performed to assess for tenderness, muscle tone, and surface characteristics. It is done gently to avoid causing pain or discomfort. D. Deep palpation: This is the final step to assess for any masses, organomegaly, or deep tenderness. It is performed more firmly but should be done carefully to avoid causing pain.