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    ATI Adult Health Assessment Final Proctored Exam

    While conducting an abdominal physical examination, the client complains of pain with deep palpation of the right kidney. Which of the following should be the nurse's next step in the physical examination?

    Explanation & Rationale

    A) Light palpation of the abdominal right lower quadrant: While light palpation is generally the first step in an abdominal examination to assess for tenderness or abnormalities, the presence of pain with deep palpation of the right kidney indicates a more specific concern. This may warrant further investigation related to the kidney rather than focusing on the lower quadrant. B) Auscultate sounds in the abdominal left lower quadrant: Auscultation is typically done before palpation to assess bowel sounds and other abnormalities. However, given the specific complaint of pain in the right kidney area, the priority should be addressing the suspected kidney issue rather than auscultating another quadrant. C) Deep palpation of the abdominal left upper quadrant: Deep palpation in another quadrant is not immediately relevant to the complaint of pain in the right kidney. Instead, it’s crucial to focus on assessing the area directly related to the client's symptoms. D) First percussion of the costovertebral angles: Percussion of the costovertebral angles (CVA) is a specific technique used to assess kidney tenderness and is appropriate for evaluating the potential causes of the pain in the right kidney. This examination can help determine if the pain is due to conditions like kidney infection or inflammation. Therefore, it is the most relevant next step in this situation.

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