What are the key assessments in a secondary survey?

The key assessments in a secondary survey include a thorough physical examination, focused assessments based on the patient's condition, and vital signs. This process is crucial as it allows healthcare professionals to gather comprehensive information about the patient's health status after the primary survey has identified immediate life-threatening issues.

During the secondary survey, the thorough physical exam helps to detect any injuries or conditions that may not have been initially apparent. Focused assessments enable the clinician to hone in on specific areas of concern based on the patient's symptoms or mechanism of injury. Monitoring vital signs is essential, as these metrics provide critical insights into the patient's physiological state and guide further clinical decision-making.

In contrast, options related to initial assessment and airway management primarily pertain to the primary survey phase, where the focus is on stabilizing the patient. Assessments regarding scene safety and patient transport address pre-hospital considerations rather than the detailed evaluations conducted in the secondary survey. Lastly, while understanding patient history and mechanism of injury is valuable, it is more aligned with the broader assessment framework rather than specific key assessments performed in the secondary survey itself.