Question

The nurse is assessing the patient. which of the following is an

objective data a. The patient complained feeling out of breath b.
The patient reports of chest pain . The patient is tachypneic whe

Answer 1

Objective data in medical assessments are quantifiable observations, like hypoxemia measured with a pulse oximeter or lung sounds heard via a stethoscope, differentiating from subjective data which are patient-reported experiences like pain or breathlessness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is inquiring about the difference between subjective and objective data in the context of a medical assessment. During a physical examination, objective data refers to any information that can be observed or measured directly by the healthcare provider, without reliance on the patient’s self-report. Examples of this would include symptoms like hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) which can be measured using a pulse oximeter, a high fever as indicated by a thermometer reading, or crackling sounds in the lungs detected through a stethoscope—all suggesting a possible condition like pneumonia. These findings contrast with subjective data, which are based on the patient’s personal experience, such as feeling out of breath or experiencing chest pain. While both types of data are crucial for a complete assessment and diagnosis, objective data provide a quantifiable and verifiable record that supports clinical findings.