Final answer:
For a client with cold symptoms, the nurse should collect data on the date of symptom onset, smoking history, recent exposure to individuals with similar symptoms, and over-the-counter medication use.
Step-by-step explanation:
When performing a focused data collection process on a client complaining of cold symptoms, a clinic nurse should include the following data:
- Date of onset of symptoms: This will help determine how long the client has been experiencing the symptoms, which can provide important information for diagnosis and treatment.
- Smoking history: Smoking can worsen respiratory symptoms and make a cough worse, so it is important to assess the client's smoking history.
- Recent exposure to individuals with similar symptoms: This can help indicate whether the client may have been exposed to a contagious respiratory infection.
- Over-the-counter medication use: This information is important to assess what treatments the client has already tried and if they have had any effect.