A doctor is seeing a patient for complaints of pins and needles sensation to their left hand. Which of the following terms should the doctor indicate on their charting?

Choice A reason: Dysesthesia refers to abnormal sensations, often painful, like burning or aching, due to nerve damage. While related to sensory nerve dysfunction, it does not specifically describe the pins and needles sensation, which is better characterized by paresthesia, making this term less precise for the patient’s complaint.

Choice B reason: Paresthesia describes abnormal sensations like pins and needles, typically from nerve compression or irritation, as in carpal tunnel syndrome. It accurately captures the patient’s reported left-hand sensation, aligning with clinical terminology for documenting transient or chronic sensory nerve disturbances, making it the appropriate term.

Choice C reason: Proprioception is the sense of body position, mediated by sensory receptors in muscles and joints, not related to pins and needles sensations. It involves spatial awareness, not cutaneous sensory abnormalities, so this term is irrelevant to the patient’s sensory complaint in the left hand.

Choice D reason: A sprain is a ligament injury, causing pain and swelling, not sensory disturbances like pins and needles. It is a musculoskeletal issue, unrelated to neurological symptoms of nerve irritation, making this term inappropriate for documenting the patient’s sensory nerve-related complaint.

Choice A reason: Providing a blueprint for patient-centered care describes the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation), guiding systematic care delivery. This is integral, unlike prescribing medications, a physician’s role. Assuming this is not part risks misunderstanding the process, critical for structured, effective nursing care in complex patient scenarios.

Choice B reason: Holistic care enhancing outcomes is central to the nursing process, addressing physical, emotional, and social needs through its steps. This contrasts with prescribing, which is medical. Assuming this is not part misaligns with the process’s purpose, risking fragmented care and reduced effectiveness in patient-centered nursing practice.

Choice C reason: A problem-solving approach for complex clients defines the nursing process, using data to address multifaceted needs systematically. Unlike prescribing, it’s a nursing responsibility. Assuming this is not part undermines the process’s role, risking ineffective care planning and interventions critical for managing complex patient conditions in clinical settings.

Choice D reason: Developing medication prescriptions is a physician’s role, not part of the nursing process, which focuses on assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Nurses administer or educate about medications but don’t prescribe. This distinction ensures role clarity, preventing scope-of-practice errors and supporting collaborative, patient-centered care in healthcare settings.