Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

The statement "Mary is complaining her stomach hurts" is an example of a subjective observation because it conveys the patient's personal feelings and experiences. Subjective observations include information that is reported by the patient and cannot be directly measured or quantifiably assessed. They often reflect the patient's perception, emotions, or feelings about their condition.

In contrast, measuring blood pressure, recording temperature, and checking pulse rate are all examples of objective observations, as these measurements can be quantified and are based on empirical data rather than personal sensations or statements made by the patient. Objective observations provide concrete facts that can be tracked, whereas subjective observations require interpretation and can vary based on the individual's perspective.