When auscultating a client's abdomen, the practical nurse (PN) listens for bowel sounds for three minutes without hearing any peristaltic sounds. Which action should the PN take?

A. Continue to auscultate the abdomen for a longer time period: Absence of bowel sounds should be confirmed after listening for 5 minutes in each quadrant before reporting. B. Determine if client needs to empty bladder: Not related to bowel sounds. C. Ask client to flex knees to relax the abdomen.: May relax abdomen but does not confirm bowel activity. D. Notify charge nurse of the absence of bowel sounds: Only after confirming prolonged absence.