9.1: Abdominal Assessment Introduction

NURS142: Health Assessment in Nursing · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Learning Objectives

    • Perform an abdominal assessment
    • Differentiate normal and abnormal bowel sounds
    • Modify assessment techniques to reflect variations across the life span
    • Document actions and observations
    • Recognize and report significant deviations from norms

    A thorough assessment of the abdomen provides valuable information regarding the function of a patient’s gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) systems. Understanding how to properly assess the abdomen and recognizing both normal and abnormal assessment findings will allow the nurse to provide high-quality care to the patient.

    It is important for the nurse to be aware of the underlying structures of the abdomen when completing a gastrointestinal or genitourinary assessment. Know the position of the organs within the abdominal cavity as you learn to auscultate, palpate, and percuss the abdomen.

    This page titled 9.1: Abdominal Assessment Introduction was last modified on Mon, 28 Jun 2021 17:07:49 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Valerie J. Bugosh, Leisa E. McAlicher, and Katherine Zaharchuk.