Use the four headings
Subjective records what the person reports. Objective records observations or measurements. Assessment interprets those details. Plan explains the proposed next steps. Keep an interpretation out of the objective section, even when it seems likely.
Draft from the supplied facts
List the scenario details under S, O, A and P. Mark gaps explicitly: an unreported finding is not a normal finding. Connect each assessment to evidence already listed, then connect the plan to that assessment. Follow the course template for detail and terminology.
Example
Invented teaching scenario, not an archive submission or clinical advice.
- S — Subjective
- A fictional patient says, "I cannot find my appointment date on this letter."
- O — Objective
- When asked to locate the appointment date, the person points to the letter's issue date.
- A — Assessment
- The two dates need clarification; this observation alone does not establish a wider memory or reading problem.
- P — Plan
- Review the appointment details together, then ask the person to identify the appointment date again.
Review your draft
For a critique, name the section, the gap and why it matters. Suggest clarification without supplying invented findings. Before submitting, check that reported facts, observations and interpretations stay distinct. Add references where your assignment requires them.
Further reading: OpenStax: SOAP documentation.
Past SOAP-note requests
Real historical request types, described without student text or files.
- SOAP note using a supplied template — June 2021
- Short SOAP notes for supplied case studies — June 2021
- Subjective and objective assessment documentation — May 2021
- Critique of a SOAP note — July 2020
Common questions
Should I fill in missing observations?
No. Identify the gap and ask how to handle it. Never present an invented finding as part of the supplied scenario.
Is SOAP the same as a care plan?
SOAP organizes documentation into four sections. A care-plan assignment connects priorities, outcomes, interventions, rationales and evaluation.