What type of data is recorded when measuring vital signs such as blood pressure?

• A. Qualitative data
• B. Subjective data
• C. Core data
• D. Objective data

Answer: (D)

Measuring vital signs yields objective data—numbers obtained through direct measurement with instruments. Blood pressure is read with a cuff and gauge (or an automated device), giving a numeric value in mmHg. This data is verifiable and not dependent on personal feelings or interpretations, unlike subjective data which comes from the patient’s perceptions. Qualitative data describe attributes or categories (descriptions, labels) rather than measurements, so they don’t apply to a numeric blood pressure reading. In nursing practice, recording objective data like blood pressure provides a concrete, trackable measure of a patient’s physiological status over time.