Why does a nurse auscultate prior to palpating and percussing the abdomen during an assessment?

Auscultating the abdomen before palpating and percussing is primarily important because of how physiological changes in the abdomen can affect assessment results. When palpation and percussion are performed, they can stimulate the gastrointestinal system and increase peristalsis. This increased activity can lead to altered bowel sounds, which can misrepresent the patient's normal state. By auscultating first, the nurse captures the bowel sounds in a baseline state, unaltered by the manipulation that follows, thus obtaining a clearer and more accurate understanding of the patient's gastrointestinal activity.

The choice regarding preventing discomfort for the client is less relevant in this context since the primary focus is on accurately assessing bowel sounds rather than reducing discomfort, and the measure of internal organ size is not contingent upon auscultation. While there may be some minor changes due to manipulation, the main purpose is to ensure that prior interventions do not interfere with the assessment of bowel sounds, making accurate diagnosis and subsequent care decisions more reliable.