Which item is typically documented in the Objective section of a SOAP note?

• A. Vital Signs
• B. Chief Complaint
• C. Patient's Reported Symptoms
• D. Plan for Follow-Up

Answer: (A)

Objective data are observable, measurable findings recorded during the encounter. Vital signs exemplify this because they are numerical measurements that anyone can verify, such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. The other items come from the patient’s report or from the plan: chief complaint and patient-reported symptoms are subjective, describing what the patient feels or reports, and the plan for follow-up belongs in the Plan section. So vital signs are the typical item documented in the Objective section.