Which data type is based on what the health care worker observes during care?

• A. Subjective data
• B. Vital signs
• C. Objective data
• D. Medical history

Answer: (C)

Observations and measurements you can verify through your senses or with tools are objective data. This includes what you can see, hear, feel, or measure during care—such as a fever reading, pulse, blood pressure, respirations, skin changes, swelling, wound appearance, or changes in mobility. These are facts another caregiver could confirm. In contrast, subjective data come from the patient’s own reports of how they feel, like pain level, dizziness, or nausea, which aren’t directly measurable by you. Vital signs are an example of objective data because they are measurable values, but the broader category is the data you observe and measure during care. Medical history is information the patient provides about past illnesses and treatments, which is mainly subjective, though it may include objective details like dates.