When should a nurse perform a head-to-toe assessment?

Performing a head-to-toe assessment during the admission process is critical for establishing a comprehensive baseline of the patient’s health status. This thorough assessment allows the nurse to identify any existing medical conditions, physical limitations, or abnormalities that may need immediate attention or ongoing monitoring.

Conducting the assessment at admission also provides an opportunity to gather vital information from the patient or their medical history, contributing to a more tailored and effective nursing care plan. It sets the foundation for future assessments and helps to identify changes in the patient's condition over their stay.

While routine assessments may be performed daily or at various other times throughout a patient's care, the admission assessment is particularly vital as it captures crucial information that will inform all subsequent care decisions.