Final answer:
Heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin retraction time are objective measures in assessing a newborn's condition post-birth, as part of the Apgar scoring system that quantifies transition success and identifies potential distress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin retraction time objective measures when assessing a patient, including a newborn. In medicine, objective data refers to information that is observable and measurable, as opposed to subjective data, which is based on personal opinions or feelings. The method you are describing with the five criteria - skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration - assesses a newborn's wellbeing and is known as the Apgar score. Each criterion is given a score of 0, 1, or 2 immediately after birth and again at 5 minutes post-birth. The aggregate of these scores indicates the infant's condition, with higher scores suggesting a successful transition from the womb and lower scores potentially indicating distress.