Verbatim Quote
Definition
The patient's exact words, enclosed in double quotation marks and attributed to the patient, rather than the nurse's paraphrase or summary of what was said.
- Format
- Enclosed in double quotation marks
- Attribution
- Credited directly to the patient, not the nurse
- Contrast
- Paraphrase or clinical summary of what was said
- Setting
- Forensic nursing and SANE examination documentation
Common questions
Why does forensic charting distinguish quotes from paraphrase?+
A direct quote is the patient's own language and can carry independent evidentiary weight, while a paraphrase is filtered through the nurse's interpretation and is more easily challenged on cross-examination.
What is a common charting error to avoid?+
Recording what the patient said in the nurse's own words without quotation marks, which blurs whose language is on the record and weakens the note's value if the case goes to court.
Related terms
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- SANE Examination Record
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