The nurse is obtaining a health history from a patient who has come to the local health clinic and is having abdominal pain. The best question to elicit the probable reason for the visit and identify the chief complaint is:
A) "Why do you think your abdomen is painful?"
B) "Where is your abdominal pain and when did it start?"
C) "What brings you to the clinic today?"
D) "What is the problem today?"
Ans: C
Feedback: The chief complaint should clearly address what has brought the patient to see the health care provider; an open-ended question best serves this purpose. The question, "What brings you to the clinic," allows the client sufficient latitude to provide an answer that expresses the priority issue. Options A and B are incorrect; both answers are too specific for the first question regarding the chief complaint but would be good follow-up questions. Option D is incorrect; it is an open-ended question but still directs the patient toward the problem.
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