Forming a general impression is performed before which phase of patient assessment?

Forming a general impression is a critical first step in the patient assessment process, specifically before conducting the primary assessment. This phase involves quickly evaluating the patient as a whole, assessing their level of consciousness, identifying any immediate life threats, and forming an overall understanding of their condition. This initial evaluation helps prioritize care based on visible indicators, such as the patient's body position, the presence of any obvious injuries, and their responsiveness.

By establishing a general impression, the responder can focus on what is most pressing during the primary assessment, such as assessing the airway, breathing, and circulation. This approach ensures that any life-threatening conditions are identified and addressed promptly, which is vital in emergency care scenarios.

While the secondary assessment, visual assessment, and patient history evaluation are important components of patient assessment, they occur after the general impression and primary assessment. The secondary assessment delves deeper into the patient's condition and may involve a more detailed examination of injuries and symptoms, while patient history gathering is performed to understand the patient's background and potential underlying issues.