The nurse is auscultating a client's abdomen and is unable to discern any bowel sounds. How should the nurse proceed with assessment?

A. Perform abdominal percussion, and then repeat auscultation: While percussion can provide additional information, the absence of bowel sounds should first be confirmed by listening for a longer period before moving to other techniques. B. Palpate the client's abdomen to stimulate bowel motility: Palpation is not recommended to stimulate bowel sounds; it may alter the assessment. C. Repeat auscultation in four to six hours: Immediate reassessment after five minutes of auscultation is preferable to prolonged waiting. D. Listen for five minutes before documenting an absence of bowel sounds: To ensure accurate assessment, the nurse should listen for up to five minutes in each quadrant