A 22-year-old college student presents to the emergency department reporting severe abdominal pain that started around the umbilicus 10 hours ago and has now localized to the right lower quadrant (RLQ). While palpating the left lower quadrant (LLQ), the patient cries out in pain pointing to their RLQ. The nurse identifies this clinical finding as which assessment sign?

Rovsing’s sign is characterized by referred rebound pain in the right lower quadrant (RLQ) when palpation or pressure is applied and released in the left lower quadrant (LLQ). This occurs because pressure on the left side compresses the descending colon, moving air retrogradely toward the cecum and causing stretching/irritation of the inflamed parietal peritoneum overlying the appendix. Murphy’s sign indicates acute cholecystitis, Obturator sign indicates deep pelvic appendicitis upon internal rotation of the flexed hip, and Cullen’s sign (periumbilical ecchymosis) indicates retroperitoneal hemorrhage or acute pancreatitis.