A nursing health assessment can be defined as the systematic collection of subjective data stated by the client and objective data observed by the nurse used to make nursing judgments (client concerns, collaborative problems, and referrals).

This chapter focuses on the subjective collection of data, which are sensations or symptoms (e.g., pain, hunger), feelings (e.g., happiness, sadness), perceptions, desires, preferences, beliefs, ideas, values, and personal information that can be elicited and verified only by the client. To elicit accurate subjective data, effective interview skills are needed by the nurse.

Guidelines for obtaining the client nursing health history are discussed in addition to the phases of the client interview and communication techniques. Both a generic and functional health pattern framework that may be used by the nurse to interview the client are presented.