A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has long-term symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the educational materials?

Choice A Reason: Superficial palpation

Superficial palpation is typically performed after auscultation to avoid altering bowel sounds. It involves gently pressing on the abdomen to detect tenderness, masses, or other abnormalities. This step helps in identifying areas that may require deeper examination.

Choice B Reason: Auscultation

Auscultation is performed after inspection and before palpation to listen to bowel sounds without interference. Using a stethoscope, the nurse listens for the presence, frequency, and character of bowel sounds. This step is crucial as palpation can stimulate bowel activity, potentially leading to inaccurate findings.

Choice C Reason: Inspection

Inspection is the first step in an abdominal assessment. The nurse visually examines the abdomen for any abnormalities such as distension, scars, or discoloration. This step provides initial information about the child’s abdominal health and helps guide the subsequent steps of the assessment.

Choice D Reason: Deep palpation

Deep palpation is performed last to assess the deeper structures of the abdomen. This step involves applying more pressure to feel for masses, organ size, and tenderness. It is important to perform this step last to avoid causing discomfort or altering the findings of the other assessment steps.

Choice A Reason:

This option suggests removing the mask before removing gloves. However, the correct procedure is to remove gloves first, followed by the mask, to prevent contamination from the gloves to the face.

Choice B Reason:

This is the correct answer. Medical masks should be discarded after each use to prevent contamination and ensure effectiveness. Reusing masks can lead to the spread of pathogens.

Choice C Reason:

While positioning the mask correctly is important, the statement contains an error. The flexible metal piece should be at the top of the mask, not the bottom.

Choice D Reason:

Touching the front of the mask while wearing it is incorrect as it can lead to contamination. The front of the mask is considered contaminated, and touching it can transfer pathogens to the hands.