Which of the following is an example of a chief complaint?

• A. The patient has a past medical history of diabetes
• B. The patient denies chest pain
• C. The patient is anxious about an exam
• D. The patient reports having really severe chest pain

Answer: (D)

A chief complaint is the main symptom or reason the patient seeks care, stated in the patient’s own words. Saying they have really severe chest pain directly communicates the presenting problem and drives the initial assessment and triage. Background details like past medical history (diabetes) describe ongoing conditions, not the current reason for the visit. Expressing that they deny chest pain shows the absence of the presenting symptom, not the issue at hand. An anxious feeling about an exam is an emotional state, not the health problem bringing them in. Therefore, reporting severe chest pain best exemplifies the chief complaint.