Care Manager Certification Practice Exam

How should deep palpation be performed during an abdominal assessment?

1. Before light palpation

2. After auscultation

3. With minimal pressure only

4. Immediately after inspection

The correct answer is: Immediately after inspection

Deep palpation during an abdominal assessment is best performed immediately after inspection for several important reasons. This sequence allows the care manager or medical professional to first observe the abdomen visually for any abnormalities such as swelling, discoloration, or visible masses. Following this visual assessment, deep palpation can be carried out to gather more information about the underlying structures and conditions. Palpation helps in determining the size, shape, and consistency of organs and potential masses, and doing it after visual inspection ensures that the examiner has noted any surface anomalies that might inform further assessment during palpation. This logical progression from observation to touch enhances the accuracy of the examination and aids in identifying issues that may require further investigation. In contrast, performing deep palpation prior to or around the same time as other assessment techniques could miss subtle findings that would have been observed during visual inspection, potentially leading to an incomplete assessment.