The nurse is preparing to examine a patient who has been complaining of right lower quadrant pain. Which technique is correct during the assessment? The nurse should:

a. Examine the tender area first
b. Examine the tender area last
c. Avoid palpating the tender area
d. Palpate the tender area first and then auscultate for bowel sounds

The nurse should examine the tender right lower quadrant area last during an abdominal assessment to prevent discomfort and to avoid altering the patient's condition.

Explanation:

When a nurse is preparing to examine a patient with right lower quadrant pain, the correct technique is to examine the tender area last. This is because palpating the painful area first may cause discomfort or pain to the patient, potentially leading to muscle guarding, and therefore less accurate findings. It is also essential that this technique is applied to avoid possibly exacerbating any underlying conditions. The initial steps of the examination typically involve inspecting and auscultating the abdomen for bowel sounds before proceeding to palpate. Auscultation should precede palpation and percussion because these latter techniques can alter the frequency and character of bowel sounds. After examining the non-tender quadrants, the nurse can carefully palpate the tender area to assess any abnormalities more precisely.