History taking for advanced clinical practitioners: what should you ask?

Abstract Good history taking is a vital component of patient assessment and high-quality care. This second article in our assessment and interpretation series for advanced nurse or midwife practitioners shows how a systematic approach to taking a history, combined with asking patients about their ideas, concerns and expectations, gives a thorough understanding of patients' complaints and priorities.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

Advanced practitioners

This series is aimed at nurses and midwives working at or towards advanced practice. Advanced practitioners are educated at masters level and are assessed as competent to make autonomous decisions in assessing, diagnosing and treating patients. Advanced assessment and interpretation is based on a medical model and the role of advanced practitioners is to integrate this into a holistic package of care.