The nurse is preparing to assess the abdomen of a patient. What measure must the nurse take while examining the abdominal muscles?

Abdominal examination requires maximal relaxation of the rectus abdominis muscles to allow for accurate palpation of deep structures. Placing a small pillow under the head and having the patient flex the knees reduces tension on the abdominal wall. This position prevents voluntary guarding, which can otherwise obscure underlying masses or organomegaly. A. Ask the patient to refrain from voiding before the exam: An overdistended bladder can cause significant discomfort during palpation and may be mistaken for an abdominal mass or suprapubic tenderness. Patients should be encouraged to empty their bladder immediately prior to the assessment to ensure comfort and diagnostic accuracy. B. Position the patient's arms above the head: Placing arms above the head stretches the abdominal musculature, increasing wall tension and making deep palpation more difficult and uncomfortable. The arms should remain at the patient's sides or folded across the chest to promote the most relaxed state possible. C. Examine painful areas on the abdomen first: Assessing tender areas at the start of the exam causes the patient to tense their muscles in anticipation of pain, making the rest of the assessment unreliable. Standard protocol dictates that the nurse should examine painful quadrants last to maintain muscle relaxation and patient trust. D. Ask the patient to bend their knees slightly: Flexing the knees and hips relaxes the tension in the abdominal wall muscles. This mechanical shift makes the abdomen softer and more accessible for the clinician to perform light and deep palpation without resistance. It is a fundamental step in abdominal examination preparation.