Objective/ Subjective data

SentimentalGeek, ADN, RN · Sep 12, 2012

I agree with all of your choices.

The itching/scratching one:

The patient reporting itchiness would be subjective data. Observing the patient scratching would be objective.

nfleurant · Sep 13, 2012

Ahh yes that makes sense! Thank you for responding!

elementguy13 · Sep 13, 2012

Crying for long periods could be objective but we would need more info. Does the nurse see this this throughout the day or is the patient explaining what happened at home? Etc.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

First off let me give you the definitions of subjective and objective data.

Objective data is information that you can perceive using your owns senses. Things that you can see, hear, smell, feel, sometimes taste, and sometimes measure objective data.

Subjective data is information supplied to you by the patient. They are things that you cannot yourself perceive with your senses of sight, sound, smell, or touch. For example, pain........ a patient tells you they have a pain in their leg. That is subjective data. It is based on the patient's statement for example........you cannot see, hear, smell, or feel the patient's pain. However, you can see a grimace on the face of someone in pain. tTe grimace on their face would be an objective observation.

The easiest way for me to remember is

Subjective= pt stated (symptoms)

Objective=Observed (by yourself, labs, during assessment,etc)

psu_213, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

Just a comment on dyspnea...

If a pt says that they are short of breath...that would be subjective. I have seen pts who appear perfectly fine, breathing easy, lungs sounds perfect, yet they say they are SOB. Totally subjective. You should also chart the objective--the breath sounds, respirations unlabored, sats 100% on RA, etc.

On the other hand, I have had pt's with RR of 36, huffing and puffing, accessory muscle use, etc. and they say they are not SOB (this may be their normal). Chart the subjective-"pt denies SOB" but also chart your observations--"accessory muscle use, RR 36, crackles in the bases, etc."

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 14, 2012

To follow up on Esme's excellent comments:

sYmptoms - You tell me

sIgns - I see