QUESTIONS COVERING SUBJECTIVE VS. OBJECTIVE DATA,
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT, AND NURSING INTERVIEWING SKILLS
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALE
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I feel like my heart is skipping beats." The
nurse documents this finding as which type of data?
A) Primary objective data
B) Secondary objective data
C) Primary subjective data
D) Secondary subjective data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient's description of their own feeling is a direct
verbal report, making it primary subjective data.
2. The nurse measures a patient's blood pressure as 142/88 mmHg.
This is an example of:
A) Primary subjective data
B) Secondary objective data
C) Primary objective data
D) Secondary subjective data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood pressure measurement is a directly observed and
measured finding obtained by the nurse, which classifies it as primary
objective data.
,3. A review of a patient's medical record reveals a history of type 2
diabetes. This information is classified as:
A) Primary subjective data
B) Secondary objective data
C) Primary objective data
D) Secondary subjective data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Information obtained from the medical record is not directly
gathered from the patient during the current examination and is
therefore secondary objective data.
4. During an assessment, the nurse palpates an enlarged lymph node
in the patient's neck. This is documented as:
A) Subjective data
B) Secondary data
C) Objective data
D) Historical data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Palpation is a physical examination technique that yields
measurable and observable findings, which are objective data.
5. The patient's family member states, "She has been having trouble
sleeping for the past week." The nurse records this as:
A) Primary subjective data
B) Secondary subjective data
C) Primary objective data
D) Secondary objective data
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Information provided by a family member is considered
secondary subjective data because it is not from the patient directly.
6. Which of the following is the best example of primary subjective
data?
A) The patient's respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute.
B) The patient states, "I have a headache."
C) The patient's laboratory results show low hemoglobin.
D) The patient's skin is warm and dry.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's verbal statement about their headache is a
direct report of their symptom, which is primary subjective data.
7. The nurse notes that the patient has a wound that is draining
yellow pus. This is an example of:
A) Primary subjective data
B) Secondary subjective data
C) Primary objective data
D) Secondary objective data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The observation of wound drainage is a finding directly
perceived by the nurse through inspection, making it primary objective
data.
8. A patient reports experiencing nausea after eating. This is
documented as:
A) Objective data
B) Secondary data
, C) Subjective data
D) Diagnostic data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nausea is a symptom that only the patient can perceive and
describe, making it subjective data.
9. The nurse reads in the patient's chart that the patient had a
myocardial infarction five years ago. This is:
A) Primary subjective data
B) Primary objective data
C) Secondary objective data
D) Secondary subjective data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Historical medical information from the chart is a secondary
source and is objective because it is a documented fact.
10. The nurse observes the patient walking with a limp. This
observation is:
A) Subjective data
B) Secondary objective data
C) Primary objective data
D) Historical data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The limp is directly observed by the nurse during the
assessment, making it primary objective data.
11. A patient tells the nurse, "My mother had breast cancer." This is
which type of data?
A) Primary subjective data