The subjective assesment-help

[bootsnbutton]

I am doing a paper about creating the subjective assessment as the sixth vital sign. This is mostly in part to personal experience inside and outside of the hospital setting where what the patient said was not considered important because the objective assessment did not match what the patient said. For example the famous "subjective fever", but vitals signs normal do you run cultures or not. Or the patient who states she is worried about the little dimple on her breast, but it looks fine to the doctor, should they biopsy the dimple or not. Or the patient that states they are going to 'die' but the numbers don't agree, do you report it or just tell the patient they are going to be fine. I know this is a gray area because we are all subjected to the chronic 'pain' patient or the 'drug' seeker. There is also the patient with mental issues that change this up. But any experience with the subject or any option would be appreciated because not much is written up about it.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I don't know that I would phrase this as a 'vital sign' and here's why: It does not occur with all patients. ALL patients have a temp, resp rate, BP and HR. (I'll not get into the 'pain as a fifth vital sign' and the havoc it has wreaked with opioid addiction. )