Question

After visiting with the client, the nurse documents the assessment data. Both objective and subjective information has been obtained during the assessment. Which of the following is classified as objective data?

1. Pain in the left leg
2. Elevated blood pressure
3. Fear of impending surgery
4. Discomfort upon breathing

Answer 1

Elevated blood pressure is classified as objective data because it is a measurable vital sign, unlike subjective reports of pain or discomfort which rely on the patient's personal experience.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of a nursing assessment, objective data refers to information that can be measured or observed by the nurse or another healthcare professional. Among the options given, elevated blood pressure is classified as objective data. This is because blood pressure is a vital sign that can be quantitatively measured using a sphygmomanometer and provides reliable, observable evidence of a patient's physiological state.

Objective data contrasts with subjective data, which is based on a patient's personal experience and cannot be directly measured, such as reporting pain in the left leg, fear of impending surgery, or discomfort upon breathing. These are examples of symptoms that the patient experiences and communicates, which rely on self-report and cannot be independently verified by the nurse without further diagnostic tests or observations.