The narrative component of the EMS patient care report contains which information?

• A. Subjective and objective information
• B. Only objective information
• C. Only subjective information
• D. No narrative information

Answer: (A)

In the EMS patient care report, the narrative portion is where you tell the story of the encounter by blending what the patient says with what you observe and measure. The information is twofold: subjective data come from the patient’s own words—their symptoms, history, onset, and description of what they’re experiencing. Objective data come from what you can verify through exam findings, vitals, monitoring data, and observable scene details. Putting these together gives a complete, coherent picture of the patient’s condition and how it changes with treatment, which is essential for handoffs, legal documentation, and future care. The other options miss part of that picture—focusing only on what you observe or only on what the patient reports, or suggesting there’s no narrative at all.