Studying for CNAs

[Nursingmentor]

The definition of objective observation is that you can see, hear, smell or touch it.

Whereas subjective observation is symptom driven

With this in mind base on the listing this is what I came up with:

Headache.

Nausea.

Dizziness.

Chest Pains.

Toothache.

Itchy Arms.

Should all be subjective observations, since subject observation you can see the symptoms only????????????????????????????????????????

There fore the ones I think of as Objective Observations are:

Skin rash (see and touch)

Crying. (see , touch and hear)

Rapid Pulse (see & touch)

Vomiting- (see,smell , hear & touch)

Swelling- (see)

cloudy urine - (see)

***Feeling sad***( I was sitting on the fence but you can see someone feeling sad)

Red area on skin -(see)

Fever- (touch)

Wheezing- (see)

Coughing-(see)

Fruity breath- (smell)

Can anyone shed some light??

[Neo Soldier, BSN, RN]

I wanted to touch on the "...feeling sad" one. I think that's subjective. Some antipsychotic medications could alter a person's expression of emotions, also emotions could be cultural. Feelings aren't really objective.

Objective data is not biased. It deals with numbers, measurements, color, etc. If someone from a different culture, different location saw the information, that person should be able to interpret it the same way you would.

What the patient tells you is usually subjective.

What the machine tells you, what you can see, is objective.