Which option best describes a progress note?

• A. Notes documenting how the patient is progressing toward expected outcomes
• B. A record of all medications administered during the day
• C. A summary of hospital policies
• D. An imaging report

Answer: (A)

Progress notes document how the patient is progressing toward expected outcomes. They record changes in the patient’s condition, responses to treatments, and any new symptoms or barriers since the previous entry, showing whether goals are met or unmet and guiding future care. This focus on progress toward defined outcomes distinguishes them from other records: a medication administration record lists drugs given; administrative documents capture hospital policies; an imaging report summarizes radiologic findings.