Which statement is NOT appropriate to document in the narrative section?

Which statement is NOT appropriate to document in the narrative section?

• A. General impression revealed that the patient was intoxicated.
• B. The patient’s vital signs and treatment
• C. The patient’s location on arrival
• D. The time of events

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is to restate only what you can observe and verify in the narrative. Saying the patient was intoxicated is a label or diagnosis based on interpretation, not a concrete observation. The narrative should recount what you actually saw and did, and when you did it. If there’s suspicion of intoxication, note objective signs you observed (such as odor of alcohol, slurred speech, unsteady gait, or impaired coordination) and document the concern along with the care provided and the patient’s responses. The other details—the patient’s vital signs and treatment, where the patient was located on arrival, and the exact times of events—are factual, time-stamped information that help other responders understand the situation and sequence of care, so they fit well in the narrative.

The main idea here is to restate only what you can observe and verify in the narrative. Saying the patient was intoxicated is a label or diagnosis based on interpretation, not a concrete observation. The narrative should recount what you actually saw and did, and when you did it. If there’s suspicion of intoxication, note objective signs you observed (such as odor of alcohol, slurred speech, unsteady gait, or impaired coordination) and document the concern along with the care provided and the patient’s responses.

The other details—the patient’s vital signs and treatment, where the patient was located on arrival, and the exact times of events—are factual, time-stamped information that help other responders understand the situation and sequence of care, so they fit well in the narrative.