After a client has eaten lunch 45 minutes prior, what bowel sound is the nurse likely to hear during auscultation?

After a client has eaten lunch 45 minutes prior, the nurse is likely to hear gurgling sounds during auscultation. This phenomenon occurs as the digestive system becomes active after food intake. Gurgling sounds, also referred to as borborygmi, are indicative of normal peristalsis — the contractions of the intestines that mix and propel contents along the gastrointestinal tract.

Approximately 30 minutes to two hours after eating, the body is typically engaged in the digestive process, leading to increased bowel activity and the production of these characteristic sounds. Gurgling indicates that the intestines are working to break down food and move it through the digestive system.

Other sounds, such as high-pitched sounds, could indicate an obstruction or high intestinal activity, while soft clicks might suggest less vigorous bowel activity that is typical in a resting digestive state. Silence may indicate reduced or absent bowel activity, which is not expected just after eating. Therefore, gurgling sounds are the most appropriate and expected auditory finding in this scenario.