Select the closed-ended question below.

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: Asking about the time assesses temporal orientation, a component of cognitive function, but is less comprehensive than date recall. Time awareness can vary due to environmental factors or confusion, making it less reliable for evaluating overall orientation in older adults, who may have memory deficits.

Choice B reason: Asking if the patient can stand up tests physical ability, not cognitive orientation. Orientation assessment focuses on awareness of time, place, and person, critical for detecting delirium or dementia. Physical tests are irrelevant to mental status evaluation, making this an inappropriate question.

Choice C reason: Asking for the date evaluates orientation to time, a key component of cognitive assessment in older adults. It tests memory and awareness, crucial for detecting cognitive impairments like dementia. This question is specific, measurable, and aligns with standard mental status examinations, making it the most appropriate.

Choice D reason: Asking about feelings assesses emotional state, not orientation. While relevant for overall health, it does not evaluate cognitive awareness of time, place, or person. Orientation questions target memory and perception, critical for neurological assessment, rendering this choice less relevant for the task.