It is helpful to begin the health history by obtaining the reason why the patient is seeking health care in their own words. During a visit to a clinic or emergency department or on admission to a health care agency, the patient’s reasons for seeking care are referred to as the chief complaint. After a patient has been admitted, the term main health needs is used to classify what the patient feels is most important at that time. Whichever term is used, it recognizes that patients are complex beings, with potentially multiple coexisting health needs, but there is often a pressing issue that requires most immediate care. This is not to suggest that other issues be ignored, but rather it allows health care team members to prioritize care and address more urgent needs first.^[1] See Table 2.5a for suggested focused interview questions to use to investigate the reason a patient is seeking care based on the health care setting.

The nurse is always aware of critical assessment findings requiring immediate notification of a health care provider or the initiation of emergency care according to agency policy. For example, if a patient reports chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden changes in vision or the ability to speak, sudden weakness or paralysis, uncontrolled bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm, the provider should immediately be notified with possible initiation of emergency care.

Table 2.5a Focused Questions for Reasons for Seeking Health Care by Setting^[2]

Chief Complaint

After identifying the reason the patient is seeking health care, additional focused questions are used to obtain detailed information about this concern. The mnemonic PQRSTU is often used to ask the patient questions in an organized fashion. See Figure 2.1^[3] for an image of PQRSTU.

The PQRSTU mnemonic is often used to assess pain, but it can also be used to assess many other symptoms. See Table 2.5b for suggested focus questions for pain and other symptoms using the PQRSTU mnemonic.^[4]

Table 2.5b Sample PQRSTU Focused Questions for Pain and Other Symptoms

While interviewing a patient about their chief complaint, use open-ended questions to allow the patient to elaborate on information that further improves your understanding of their health concerns. If their answers do not seem to align, continue to ask focused questions to clarify information. For example, if a patient states that “the pain is tolerable” but also rates the pain as a “7” on a 0-10 pain scale, these answers do not align, and the nurse should continue to use follow-up questions using the PQRSTU framework. For example, upon further questioning the patient explains they rate the pain as a “7” in their knee when participating in physical therapy exercises, but currently feels the pain is tolerable while resting in bed. This additional information will help the nurse customize interventions for effective treatment.