Final answer:
To properly palpate the abdomen, a nurse uses the flat palmar surfaces of the fingers to gently feel for any abnormalities in a systematic manner, unlike checking for pulse which uses the tips of the fingers on an artery.
Step-by-step explanation:
When palpating the abdomen, the correct technique involves using a gentle, systematic approach. The nurse should use the flat palmar surfaces of the fingers to gently feel for any abnormalities such as masses, tenderness, or organomegaly. Starting from one quadrant and moving to the other quadrants in a clockwise direction ensures that no area of the abdomen is overlooked. Moreover, the depth of palpation should be adjusted based on the structures being assessed with light palpation used initially, followed by deeper palpation if necessary. The process of palpation does not typically include the use of the back of the hand as this would be less sensitive to subtle differences in tissue texture. Furthermore, the use of a stethoscope is not part of the palpation process but rather auscultation, which is used to listen to bowel sounds and vascular sounds such as bruits or the blood pressure sounds, which are known as Korotkoff sounds.
To palpate other structures such as the pulse, the tips of the fingers are used to apply light pressure over the superficial arteries. The pulse is commonly checked at the radial artery in the wrist or the carotid artery in the neck but can be palpated at various locations throughout the body. Unlike palpation techniques for the abdomen, pulse palpation requires a more focused touch with the fingertips.