A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic back pain and asks about receiving acupuncture for relief. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a contraindication to receiving this treatment?

A. Palpate the abdomen: Palpating the abdomen before auscultating bowel sounds could potentially alter the findings by stimulating peristalsis or causing discomfort in the client, particularly in cases of appendicitis or other acute abdominal conditions.

B. Administer an antiemetic:A thorough assessment, including auscultation of bowel sounds, is needed first to rule out conditions like a bowel obstruction or paralytic ileus where antiemetics may be contraindicated.

C. Offer pain medication:Pain medication can mask symptoms and interfere with the nurse's or physician's ability to accurately assess the underlying cause of the client's symptoms, such as appendicitis.

D. Auscultate bowel sounds:Auscultating bowel sounds is the first action the nurse should take because it is a non-invasive assessment that can provide critical information. It helps determine if bowel sounds are present, hyperactive, hypoactive, or absent, which can guide further interventions and diagnostic steps.

The correct answer is that the nurse should complete an incident report. An incident report is a formal record of an unexpected event that occurred in a healthcare facility. It is important for the nurse to document the details of the visitor's fall, including the date, time, location and any witnesses. This information can be used to identify and address any safety hazards that may have contributed to the fall.

Options a, c and d are not appropriate actions for the nurse to take in this situation. Administering acetaminophen to the client is not relevant to the visitor's fall. Sending the visitor to the risk management office and documenting the occurrence in the client's medical record are not necessary steps in this situation.