How should a nurse determine the chief complaint of an adolescent?

How should a nurse determine the chief complaint of an adolescent?

• A. By interviewing the adolescent to identify which symptom prompted them to seek help.
• B. By interviewing the parent only.
• C. By reviewing the chart.
• D. By observing the adolescent without asking.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to center the assessment on the adolescent’s own report of what brought them in. In pediatric care, especially with teens, the chief complaint is best identified by asking the adolescent directly what symptom or problem prompted them to seek help. This respects their growing autonomy and often yields the clearest, most accurate information about what they’re experiencing, when it started, how it feels, how severe it is, and how it affects daily life. Start with an open-ended question like, “What brings you in today?” and then follow with focused questions to clarify the main symptom, its onset, intensity, timing, aggravating or relieving factors, and associated symptoms. Relying solely on the parent can miss concerns the adolescent has or misinterpret the problem, and reviewing the chart or observing without asking won’t reveal the adolescent’s own experience of the chief complaint. Gathering the adolescent’s perspective first sets the stage for a complete and accurate assessment and helps build trust and communication for the rest of the visit.

The main idea is to center the assessment on the adolescent’s own report of what brought them in. In pediatric care, especially with teens, the chief complaint is best identified by asking the adolescent directly what symptom or problem prompted them to seek help. This respects their growing autonomy and often yields the clearest, most accurate information about what they’re experiencing, when it started, how it feels, how severe it is, and how it affects daily life. Start with an open-ended question like, “What brings you in today?” and then follow with focused questions to clarify the main symptom, its onset, intensity, timing, aggravating or relieving factors, and associated symptoms.

Relying solely on the parent can miss concerns the adolescent has or misinterpret the problem, and reviewing the chart or observing without asking won’t reveal the adolescent’s own experience of the chief complaint. Gathering the adolescent’s perspective first sets the stage for a complete and accurate assessment and helps build trust and communication for the rest of the visit.