A nurse is gathering data about a patient. The nurse determines ...

[Haya94]

A nurse is gathering data about a patient. The nurse determines that which of the following is objective data?
 
  a. The patient complains of phantom pain after receiving a left below-the-knee amputation.
  b. The patient complains of crushing chest pain and states, I feel like there is an elephant sitting on my chest.
  c. The patient complains of feeling anxious about being hospitalized, and states, I feel like I'm going to die.
  d. The patient has a heart rate of 99 beats per minute, respirations of 20 per minute, and a temperature of 99.2 F.

Question 2

A nurse is gathering data about a patient. The nurse determines that which of the following is subjective data?
 
  a. The patient complains of excruciating, crushing chest pain.
  b. The patient is short of breath and coughs up green sputum.
  c. The patient has gained 1 lb within the past 24 hours.
  d. The patient is experiencing sinus tachycardia and peripheral edema.

[JCABRERA33]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Subjective information is based on the patient's opinion. Some refer to subjective information as symptoms. This usually includes feelings of physical discomfort, anxiety, and mental stress that are more difficult to measure. The nurse cannot experience subjective symptoms. Objective information includes data that the nurse can verify; these are also known as signs. A physical assessment provides objective data. The terms check, observe, monitor, weigh, measure, and smell are cues that this may be objective data collection. Obtaining initial data, such as vital signs, height, and weight, is often assigned to the LPN/LVN. Objective information helps support or cast doubt on subjective information. Option D, which contains the patient's heart rate, respirations, and temperature, is the only option that has objective data. The remaining are all examples of subjective data.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Subjective information is based on the patient's opinion. Some refer to subjective information as symptoms. This usually includes feelings of physical discomfort, anxiety, and mental stress that are more difficult to measure. The nurse cannot experience subjective symptoms. Objective information includes data that the nurse can verify; these are also known as signs. A physical assessment provides objective data. The terms check, observe, monitor, weigh, measure, and smell are cues that this may be objective data collection. Obtaining initial data, such as vital signs, height, and weight, is often assigned to the LPN/LVN. Objective information helps support or cast doubt on subjective information. The patient complaining of chest pain is the only option that is subjective. The remaining options are all examples of objective data.

[Haya94]

TYSM

[kusterl]

Excellent