Which component contains the patient's own words as reported by the clinician?

• A. Objective
• B. Plan
• C. Subjective
• D. Assessment

Answer: (C)

What’s being tested is recognizing where the patient’s own words belong in the chart. The patient’s descriptions, feelings, symptoms, and statements are captured as subjective data because they come from the patient and may not be independently verified. This includes direct quotes like how the pain feels, when it started, how severe it is, and any concerns they express. Objective data, by contrast, are things you can observe or measure, such as vital signs, exam findings, and lab results. The plan is the set of actions the clinician intends to take, and the assessment is the clinician’s interpretation of all data gathered. Since the question asks for the part containing the patient's own words, that is the subjective component.