A client presents to the emergency department because he is coughing up blood. His wife reports that the client has cirrhosis of the liver and increased confusion. How should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?

Follow the sequence of auscultation, inspection, percussion, and palpation,

Auscultate the bowel sound first then perform palpation and percussion

Palpate the most painful area progressing to the least painful parts

Begin with inspection and end with palpation