RN Exam Practice
Health Promotion and MaintenanceQuestion 313 of 2368

A client reports pain in the left lower abdomen. When the nurse lightly palpates the abdomen, which area should be palpated last?

  1. The right lower quadrant
  2. The area where the client reports pain
  3. The suprapubic area over the bladder
  4. The area farthest from the pain
Show answer

Correct answer: The area where the client reports pain

The painful area is palpated last so that earlier palpation is not affected by pain and guarding.

Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Abdominal Assessment: Palpation. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Health Promotion and Maintenance"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026