Which of the following is considered an objective assessment?

Which of the following is considered an objective assessment?

• A. Patient complains of headache
• B. Nauseated patient in room 450-E
• C. Patient complains of pain in lower abdomen
• D. Cloudy urine

Answer: (D)

Objective assessments are those that can be measured or observed directly, rather than being based solely on personal feelings or perceptions. In this context, the characteristic of cloudy urine provides concrete, observable evidence of a potential underlying condition. Cloudiness can be identified through visual inspection or testing and suggests specific health concerns, such as infection or dehydration. In contrast, the other choices involve subjective assessments—the patient's complaints of symptoms such as headache or abdominal pain rely on personal expressions of discomfort, which can vary significantly between individuals and cannot be directly measured. Similarly, noting that a patient feels nauseated is also based on the individual's account of their condition, lacking measurable attributes. Therefore, cloudy urine stands out as the only choice reflecting objective assessment criteria, as it can be assessed without interpretation of the patient’s subjective experience.

Objective assessments are those that can be measured or observed directly, rather than being based solely on personal feelings or perceptions. In this context, the characteristic of cloudy urine provides concrete, observable evidence of a potential underlying condition. Cloudiness can be identified through visual inspection or testing and suggests specific health concerns, such as infection or dehydration.

In contrast, the other choices involve subjective assessments—the patient's complaints of symptoms such as headache or abdominal pain rely on personal expressions of discomfort, which can vary significantly between individuals and cannot be directly measured. Similarly, noting that a patient feels nauseated is also based on the individual's account of their condition, lacking measurable attributes. Therefore, cloudy urine stands out as the only choice reflecting objective assessment criteria, as it can be assessed without interpretation of the patient’s subjective experience.