Assessment Language · 10 min · EMT

Pertinent Negatives

Pertinent negatives are findings you checked and did not find—critical for differential reasoning (e.g., chest pain without dyspnea, syncope without seizure activity witnessed).

Do not write "denies everything." Name the negatives that matter for this complaint.

Good snippet

Chest pain without radiation; denied SOB, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis at onset. Syncope without incontinence or tongue biting per bystander.

Weak snippet

Patient denies everything. ROS negative.

3-question check

0/3 answered

1. Pertinent negatives should be:

AGeneric "denies all"BSpecific to the complaint/differentialCOmitted alwaysDOnly allergies

2. For syncope, a useful negative might be:

ADenied owning a carBNo seizure activity / no trauma from fall per witnessCDenied lunch preferenceDDenied TV

3. "ROS negative" alone is:

AGold standardBToo vague for EMS narrative trainingCA vitalDA format name

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Lessons · Drills · HandoffNote

NarrativeCoach is a training aid only — not a medical device, not legal/billing advice, not an ePCR, and not CE/CAPCE. Never enter real PHI. Fictional scenarios only.