Which vital sign must be manually assessed first?

The vital sign that is typically assessed first in a manual evaluation is blood pressure. Blood pressure provides crucial information about the cardiovascular system and helps in identifying potential health issues associated with circulation, such as hypertension or shock. By assessing blood pressure first, medical professionals can gauge the overall hemodynamic status of the patient, which is critical before moving on to other vital signs.

Additionally, determining blood pressure often requires the patient to be in a resting position, as movement can affect the accuracy of the readings. Once blood pressure is established, the other vital signs can be assessed in conjunction with the information obtained from blood pressure. This sequence allows for a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and appropriate prioritization of subsequent assessments, ultimately playing an important role in patient management and care.