Texas Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Which of the following is an example of objective information?

1. "The resident is tired from lack of sleep."

2. "The resident states she is in pain."

3. "There are raised, red marks the size of pinpricks on Mrs. Jonson's torso."

4. "The resident appears anxious."

The correct answer is: "There are raised, red marks the size of pinpricks on Mrs. Jonson's torso."

Objective information refers to facts that can be observed or measured and are not influenced by personal feelings or opinions. The correct answer presents a specific, observable detail that can be directly seen and recorded. The statement about raised, red marks the size of pinpricks describes a physical condition of the resident that can be documented and verified by anyone observing the situation. In contrast, the other options involve subjective interpretations or feelings that cannot be as easily measured or confirmed by others. For instance, stating that a resident is tired from lack of sleep relies on interpretation and cannot be directly observed; it’s a conclusion drawn from other evidence. Similarly, when a resident states they are in pain, the claim is based on personal experience, which is subjective, as pain cannot be quantified without using a standardized scale that the resident would describe. Finally, saying that a resident appears anxious relies on perception and observation but lacks the quantifiable specifics that objective observations provide. Thus, objective information is best exemplified by the clear, measurable description of physical conditions, as found in the correct answer.