Question

What instruction should a nurse include in a teaching plan for a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome?

1) Anticoagulants and glucocorticoids
2) Methotrexate
3) Lubricating ointments
4) Splinting to prevent flexion and hyperextension

Answer 1

When creating a teaching plan for a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome, the nurse should recommend splinting to prevent wrist flexion and hyperextension to alleviate median nerve compression symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate instruction a nurse should include in a teaching plan for a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome is splinting to prevent flexion and hyperextension. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel of the wrist, which can lead to pain, numbness, and muscle weakness in the hand. Non-surgical interventions to manage carpal tunnel syndrome include the use of a wrist splint, particularly at night, to keep the wrist in a neutral position and reduce pressure on the median nerve.