Which item is not a data type collected in the nursing interview?

• A. Objective data
• B. Subjective data
• C. Health history
• D. Observation

Answer: (D)

When collecting data in the nursing interview, you categorize what you gather into subjective data, objective data, and health history. Subjective data are the patient’s own statements about symptoms, experiences, and concerns. Health history is the organized summary of past illnesses, surgeries, meds, family history, and similar information gathered from the patient. Objective data are measurable or observable findings, typically obtained through examination and assessment.

Observation itself is a technique used to obtain data—often contributing to objective data—rather than a data type you categorize during the interview. So while you may observe the patient during the interview, the data you collect are not labeled as a separate data type called “observation.” That makes Observation the best choice for not being a data type collected in the nursing interview.