At what stage does the Chief complaint and vital signs get recorded?

The recording of the Chief Complaint and vital signs occurs during the triage stage of the emergency department workflow. Triage is a critical initial step in the patient care process where patients are evaluated and prioritized based on the severity of their condition. In this phase, the triage nurse collects essential information, including the patient's primary reason for seeking care, which is noted as the Chief Complaint. Additionally, vital signs—such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and respiratory rate—are taken to assess the patient’s immediate health status. This information is crucial as it helps determine the urgency of the patient’s needs and informs the subsequent steps in their care, ensuring that the most critical cases receive timely attention.