During the secondary survey, what should be reassessed?

• A. Reassess Vital Signs
• B. Reassess Symptoms
• C. Reassess Vital Signs and Symptoms
• D. Skip Reassessment

Answer: (C)

During the secondary survey, you keep a constant check on how the patient is doing by repeating both objective measurements and what the patient reports feeling. Vital signs give you objective evidence of how well circulation and respiration are supporting life—things like heart rate, breathing rate and effort, blood pressure, and mental status. Symptoms capture the patient’s subjective experience—pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness, numbness, or nausea—that numbers alone may not reveal. By reassessing both categories, you can detect changes early, adapt care, and decide on the need for ongoing monitoring, treatment, or evacuation. Reassessing only one set or skipping reassessment risks missing evolving problems, so checking both is essential.