Final answer:
The first technique a nurse should use when examining the abdomen is inspection, which allows for observation of visible abnormalities without altering any findings. Auscultation follows, to assess bowel sounds without manipulation and is also used to evaluate heart sounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is examining the abdomen, the first technique that should be performed is inspection. Inspection allows the nurse to observe for any visible abnormalities, such as distension, scars, or skin changes without potentially altering findings through palpation or percussion, which could disturb any present pathologies, making them harder to detect. On the other hand, techniques like palpation or percussion could potentially cause discomfort or alter the findings. Therefore, auscultation is performed after inspection but prior to palpation and percussion because it assesses the bowel sounds and is not affected by manipulation. Similarly, heart sounds are evaluated through auscultation using a stethoscope, one of the simplest diagnostic techniques to assess the state of a patient's heart.
Although laparoscopy is a more invasive procedure, involving the insertion of a camera through the abdominal wall, it serves for directly visually inspecting the abdomen and is not part of the initial physical examination techniques.