The nursing process is central to any nursing practice. It is a road map to providing quality, comprehensive care to patients that nurses continuously provide. The initial phase in this process is assessment, in which the RN gets information about a client's health status. Registered Nurses then utilize this information to develop a diagnosis and select the best nursing actions to help the patient recover. Complete head-to-toe evaluation is one of the most basic yet critical instruments at a nurse's disposal during the assessment phase. This examination covers all body systems and provides important information about the patient's general status. This tutorial will provide you with an overview of the assessment procedure as well as a detailed step-by-step guidance on how to conduct a head-to-toe evaluation. Examining patients will become second nature as you gain expertise. This checklist is the first step in gaining the professional confidence required to conduct evaluations. Let's get this party started. What Is a Head to Toe Evaluation? If you are currently in nursing school or have just begun your nursing career, you may be wondering: What exactly is a head-to-toe evaluation? What exactly does it entail? How do I finish one? Simply said, a head to toe evaluation is a thorough process that examines the health of all main body systems. It is a thorough physical examination that sheds light on a patient's wants and issues. This assessment is usually performed by an RN, although it can also be done by a doctor or an EMT. Head to toe examinations are typically performed during primary care visits or annual physical exams. When a patient arrives at a medical facility with a specific complaint or health concern, the more usual technique is a problem-focused examination. This means that the assessment process is focused on specific care goals: the health condition has been identified, hence the scope of this form of evaluation is restricted. The head to toe evaluation is the polar opposite of that. It is more comprehensive and focuses on all areas of the body. Its duration will differ based on the patient and their overall health.