Question

The nurse is admitting a patient for surgery. The patient is twisting a handkerchief over and over while saying, "I'm going to have a little mole removed. I'm not worried. The surgery will take only an hour, and then I will go home. I've never been sick a day in my life, so I'll be fine." The nurse finds the following during her physical assessment: blood pressure is 150/90; temperature is 98.6 F; pulse is 88 beats per minute; respiration is 20 breaths per minute; black, brown, and red pigmented pea-sized raised area on her shoulder. Which of the above information would be considered subjective data? (Select all that apply.)

a) Blood pressure
b) Pulse rate
c) Patient's statement about never being sick
d) Description of the mole on the shoulder

Answer 1

The subjective data mentioned is the patient's statement about never being sick, as it is based on the patient's personal experience and feeling. Objective data include the measurable blood pressure, pulse rate, and the observable description of the mole on the shoulder.

Step-by-step explanation:

Subjective data in a patient's health assessment are those details that are reported directly by the patient, reflecting personal experiences and feelings, that cannot be objectively measured or observed. In the given scenario, the patient's statement about never being sick is subjective data because it is the patient's personal recollection and cannot be independently confirmed. Objective data, on the other hand, consist of measurable and observable factors. In this scenario, the blood pressure, pulse rate, and description of the mole would be considered objective data because they are quantifiable or observable by the health care professionals.

Subjective data are vital in understanding a patient's experience and can include symptoms such as pain or anxiety, which are felt by the patient. Objective measurements, like vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, and respiration), are equally important as they provide visible or quantifiable evidence of a patient's physical state.