Question

The nurse observes a child lying rigidly in bed & taking shallow breaths. The child reports a pain score of 4 out of 5 & says, "My leg hurts." The nurse determines that the objective & subjective data are:

a) Consistent with each other
b) Contradictory
c) Inconclusive
d) Unrelated

Answer 1

The objective data of the child's rigid posture and shallow breaths and the subjective data of the child's report of pain are consistent with each other, indicating the child is likely experiencing significant pain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse observing a child lying rigidly in bed and taking shallow breaths, combined with the child's report of a high pain score of 4 out of 5, indicates that the objective and subjective data presented by the nurse and the child are consistent with each other. Objective data in health care refers to measurable facts and observations, such as the child's posture and breathing pattern. Subjective data pertains to what the patient experiences and communicates, like the report of pain. In this situation, the child's rigid posture and shallow breathing can be objectively observed as potential signs of pain, and these findings align with the child's own report of experiencing significant pain in their leg.

In clinical settings, symbols of pain scales like the Wong-Baker Faces scale or tools to measure skin conductance fluctuations due to sympathetic nerve activity are often used to help quantify the intensity of pain. These measures provide a more objective means of assessing pain severity, which complements the subjective reports from patients.