A female patient is complaining of pain in her right hip. The nurse has assessed the area and found swelling, redness and open areas, and there is a history of trauma to the hip. What type of information has the nurse gathered?

• A. Nursing diagnoses
• B. Objective data
• C. Subjective data
• D. Assessment data

Answer: (B)

The main idea is distinguishing observable data from what the patient reports. Objective data are signs that the nurse can observe or measure directly. The swelling, redness, and open areas are visible physical findings the nurse notes during an examination, so they qualify as objective data. The history of trauma is information the patient provides about past events, which is subjective data. While both types can appear in the overall assessment, the specific information gathered through direct examination in this scenario is objective data.