Is an answer to a question "subjective data"?

[Raccoon-Eyed-Nurse]

I have to write a teaching plan for an OB patient who was anemic from the birth. She didn't know a thing about how to take care of herself while she was still anemic. (Heck, no one even told her she was anemic! When I asked her about it her eyes grew wide and she said, "I'm anemic??") I know this because, well, I just asked her! "Do you know how to eat while you're anemic?" "Do you know which foods are iron-rich?" etc., etc. She answered "No" to all of my questions, but now I'm confused as to whether this is objective or subjective data. Another problem: It obviously has to be one or the other, but now I wouldn't know what sort of data I could use for the other (e.g., if her answers to my questions count as subjective, then what would be objective?).

Please help, it's due on Tuesday!

[NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN]

Knowledge deficit is subjective data.

If you can see it, touch it, measure it, it's objective.

If it's something that the patient has to tell you, it's subjective.

[Raccoon-Eyed-Nurse]

Okay, so that answers half of my question, thanks!

But what sort of objective data could there be for a knowledge deficit?

[Zyprexa_Ho]

Okay, so that answers half of my question, thanks!

But what sort of objective data could there be for a knowledge deficit?

Let's say you ask a diabetic patient to demonstrate how to inject insulin and they do it incorrectly. That would be objective data that a knowledge deficit is present.

[Zyprexa_Ho]

I would say the patient saying "no" when you ask them if they know how to prepare a meal for an anemic person would be subjective data. But if you ask them "what foods would you prepare for your diet since you are anemic?" and they tell you correct or incorrect foods that would be objective data about their knowledge. The foods are either right or wrong and that can be objectively verified.

But some may disagree with me

[Raccoon-Eyed-Nurse]

I would say the patient saying "no" when you ask them if they know how to prepare a meal for an anemic person would be subjective data. But if you ask them "what foods would you prepare for your diet since you are anemic?" and they tell you correct or incorrect foods that would be objective data about their knowledge. The foods are either right or wrong and that can be objectively verified.

But some may disagree with me

Ah, thank you, that helps a lot!