Which two components are typically taken during the initial meeting between the nurse and the patient?

• A. Health history, physical assessment
• B. Chief complaint
• C. Subjective data
• D. Nursing process

Answer: (A)

At the initial nurse-patient meeting, you gather both the health history and perform a physical assessment. The health history collects subjective data—the patient’s own reports of symptoms, past illnesses, current medications, allergies, and social or family history. The physical assessment provides objective data—vital signs, observable findings, and results from a hands-on exam. Together, these two components establish a baseline for safe, effective care and guide decisions about medication therapy, dosing, and potential contraindications. While the chief complaint is documented, it’s part of the history, and subjective data sits within the history as well. The nursing process is the overall framework, not a single data collection pair.