What it means
A traditional way to write what a client says is bothering them, such as "complains of nausea". It is often shortened to c/o. Many nurses now write "reports" or "states" instead, because "complains" can sound negative about the client. The client's main reason for seeking care is called the chief complaint.
For the nurse
Chart the client's own words in quotation marks when you can, and add what you assessed about the symptom.
In a chart
"Client c/o sharp chest pain, 7/10, starting 20 minutes ago."
At a glance
| Also written | c/o, complain of |
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Related terms
assess
To gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.
objective data
Information the nurse can observe, measure or test, such as vital signs, exam findings and lab results.