The nurse is watching a new graduate nurse perform auscultation of a patient's abdomen. Which statement by the new graduate shows a correct understanding of the reason auscultation precedes percussion and palpation of the abdomen?
A)
"We need to determine areas of tenderness before using percussion and palpation."
B)
"It prevents distortion of bowel sounds that might occur after percussion and palpation."
C)
"It allows the patient more time to relax and therefore be more comfortable with the physical examination."
D)
"This prevents distortion of vascular sounds such as bruits and hums that might occur after percussion and palpation."
ANS: B
Auscultation is performed first (after inspection) because percussion and palpation can increase peristalsis, which would give a false interpretation of bowel sounds.