A nurse is assessing a patient who reports feeling stress and anxiety.

The patient appears restless and is pacing in the room.

The patient is alert and oriented to person, place, and time.

Which of the following findings is subjective?

Choice A rationale
Chronic stress is a prolonged, often overwhelming feeling of stress that can negatively impact a person’s daily life. It can be caused by various factors, including high-pressure jobs, challenging relationships, and living in poverty. Living in poverty is a long-term situation that can cause chronic stress due to the constant worry about meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. This continuous worry and fear can lead to chronic stress.
Choice B rationale
A motor vehicle accident is typically an acute stress event. While it can cause significant stress at the moment, it is usually not a long-term stressor unless it results in severe injury or trauma that significantly impacts a person’s daily life.
Choice C rationale
Being a victim of a crime can indeed cause stress, but it is typically considered an acute stress event. However, if the crime results in long-term effects such as physical harm or psychological trauma, it could potentially lead to chronic stress.
Choice D rationale
The loss of a loved one can cause both acute and chronic stress. The initial loss can cause acute stress, and the subsequent grieving process can lead to chronic stress, especially if the individual has difficulty moving through the stages of grief. However, not everyone who loses a loved one will experience chronic stress.

Choice A rationale
Eating food that is either very warm or very cold can trigger pain in individuals with trigeminal neuralgia. Therefore, if a client made this statement, it would indicate the need for further teaching.
Choice B rationale
Chewing on the unaffected side can help minimize episodes of pain in trigeminal neuralgia.
Choice C rationale
Rinsing the mouth if tooth brushing is too painful is a good strategy for managing trigeminal neuralgia.
Choice D rationale
Washing the face with cotton pads can help minimize episodes of pain in trigeminal neuralgia.