Comfort Examination and Assessment Questionnaire (EAQ) Practice Exam

In the context of an abdominal assessment, the presence of rigidity can indicate potential underlying issues, such as peritoneal irritation or inflammation, which may suggest a serious condition like appendicitis or a perforated organ. The priority action in this case should be to obtain the client's vital signs.

This is essential because vital signs provide crucial information about the client’s hemodynamic stability and can reveal alarming changes indicating distress or shock. By assessing vital signs, the nurse can quickly determine the urgency of the situation, facilitating timely interventions or escalation of care if necessary. Monitoring the client’s vital signs offers immediate insights into their overall condition, which is critical in emergency assessments.

While the other options may be relevant at different points in the assessment process, none take precedence over ensuring the client’s vital signs are stable to identify immediate threats to their health. Keeping the client informed about recovery or checking their medication history may be important for holistic care but do not address the potential urgency implied by the rigidity observed during the physical examination.