Final answer:
The nurse receiving information directly from the patient represents a primary source, which is firsthand evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described in the question is an example of a primary source. In the context of healthcare, a primary source provides direct or first-hand evidence about an event, person, or object. In this instance, the newly admitted patient's account of his or her symptoms is firsthand information, which makes it a primary source of data for the nurse.
An example of a primary source in a different context would be a diary entry by a person who lived in the period under discussion, as opposed to a secondary source like a modern biography or an academic article analyzing past events.