Nursing Assessment Order

This is also what I have learned.

the correct order is 1. inspection 2. auscultation 3. palpation 4. percussion.

auscultation is done before palpation and percussion so that no misleading artifacts would be introduced by palpating the abdomen. in other words you would go from less invasive to most invasive. and get another health assessment book lol.

I learned the same thing also. The only time the order is different is when performing an abdominal assessment, in which case you inspect, auscultate, palpate, percuss

I just wanted to clarify this with what others learned because it has come up a few times in practice questions. I always thought the nursing assessment order was standard and easy to remember. I even checked my health assessment book. The order for a regular assessment is Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and then Auscultation. If it is an abdominal assessment, Auscultation is completed after inspection. Is this what others know to be true? Like I said, I double checked my health assessment book even but have seen different orders in the NCSBN review. Thanks in advance.

I also encountered that question in NCSBN, I kept on reading the rationale because I can't believe it's telling me a different order of assessment.. I got confused to

Auscultation is the last step ...

four techniques: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Use them in sequence—unless you're performing an abdominal assessment. Palpation and percussion can alter bowel sounds, so you'd inspect, auscultate, percuss, then palpate an abdomen.

four techniques: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Use them in sequence—unless you're performing an abdominal assessment. Palpation and percussion can alter bowel sounds, so you'd inspect, auscultate, percuss, then palpate an abdomen.

The is what I have been taught as well.