Question

Which of the following statements includes a pertinent negative?

A) "The patient complains of nausea but denies vomiting."
B) "The patient rates his pain as an 8 on a scale of 0 to 10."
C) "The possible smell of ETOH was noted on the patient."
D) "The rapid head-to-toe exam revealed abrasions to the chest."

Answer 1

Option A). The statement with a pertinent negative is 'The patient complains of nausea but denies vomiting.' A pertinent negative is valuable information that indicates a symptom that is not present.

Step-by-step explanation:

A relevant negative is included in the following statement: "The patient complains of nausea but denies vomiting." A relevant negative is an omission that can aid in diagnosis by reducing the range of potential explanations. In order to form a clinical picture, it can be helpful to know that the patient is experiencing nausea as well as vomiting, two symptoms that are not present in this statement. Therefore, Option A) is the correct answer.