In a progress note, which entry is an example of subjective data?

In a progress note, which entry is an example of subjective data?

• A. Blood pressure 120/80
• B. Temperature 101 F
• C. The patient states they feel dizzy
• D. The patient reports dizziness

Answer: (D)

Subjective data comes from the patient’s own report of what they’re experiencing. It captures symptoms, feelings, and concerns as described by the patient, not something measured or observed by the clinician. The entry that fits this best is the one that states the patient reports dizziness. That wording clearly attributes the dizziness to the patient’s own account, showing the symptom as described by the patient rather than a measurement or an observer’s interpretation. In contrast, the other entries are objective: blood pressure and temperature are numbers obtained with equipment. The remaining option describes the patient’s experience in words, which is subjective, but the standard, most direct way to document this type of data in a progress note is “the patient reports dizziness.”

Subjective data comes from the patient’s own report of what they’re experiencing. It captures symptoms, feelings, and concerns as described by the patient, not something measured or observed by the clinician.

The entry that fits this best is the one that states the patient reports dizziness. That wording clearly attributes the dizziness to the patient’s own account, showing the symptom as described by the patient rather than a measurement or an observer’s interpretation. In contrast, the other entries are objective: blood pressure and temperature are numbers obtained with equipment. The remaining option describes the patient’s experience in words, which is subjective, but the standard, most direct way to document this type of data in a progress note is “the patient reports dizziness.”