Abdominal Physical Examination Techniques

The correct sequence for abdominal assessment is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.

Objective data are examples of physical findings, laboratory test results, and radiological findings.

Inspection always comes first when performing a physical examination of the abdomen.

Percussion and palpation can alter natural findings during auscultation of the abdomen.

The health history provides subjective data.

Auscultation provides objective data.

Laboratory test results are an example of subjective data.

When assessing a patient's health history, the nurse should record the current illness in reverse chronological order, starting from the most recent symptoms.

During percussion, the nurse uses slow and gentle tapping of the fingers or hands against body surfaces to produce sounds.

The point of maximal impulse of the heart is normally found at the sixth intercostal space, near the apex.

The purpose of hand washing is to remove most microorganisms from the hands.