WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
Advanced Health Assessment — Video Script
Personal reference only — organized in the exact order of the grading checklist
How to read this script
This follows the order of your Comprehensive Health Assessment Techniques Checklist, section by section, so you can
move through the video and mentally check items off as you go.
SAY = say this out loud to the patient / camera (exact wording, adjust naturally in the moment).
• Plain bullets = what you physically do (do NOT narrate findings unless the bullet is a SAY line).
Reminder = easy-to-forget grading item — a note to yourself, not something you say.
CHECKLIST = the exact rubric line items that section covers, so you can confirm you hit all of them before moving
on.
Chief complaint has been changed to SHOULDER PAIN throughout (this lines up with the 5 required shoulder special
tests in the Focused Orthopedic Exam — hip pain has no dedicated test on your rubric, so shoulder is the safer
choice).
PART 1 — Introduction & Health History
CHECKLIST: Health History (9 pts) — Chief Complaint, HPI/Focused Orthopedic, Medications, Allergies, Medical Hx,
Vaccinations, Family Hx, Social Hx, Review of Systems
Opening / Identification / Consent
SAY “Hi, my name is and I am a Nurse Practitioner student with WGU.”
SAY “Before we start, do I have your permission to assess and treat you today?”
SAY “Perfect, thank you. Now can you tell me your first and last name, please?”
● Verbalize the patient's name — it's a rubric requirement.
SAY “Thank you — may I call you by your first name?”
SAY “And can you tell me today's date?”
SAY “For safety purposes, can you please tell me your date of birth?”
SAY “Thank you. Now, if you're comfortable sharing, what gender do you identify as?”
SAY “Thank you again. Now please tell me, what brings you in today?”
Chief Complaint & HPI — OLDCARTS (Shoulder Pain)
SAY “Okay, let's talk about that a little more.”
Category Question Response
Onset When did it start? A few months ago
Location Where is it located? Any spread or other areas? Left shoulder, sometimes
radiates down the upper arm
Duration How long does it last? Does it come and go? It’s consistent, worse with
movement
Characteristics Can you describe it? Dull, aching, sharp, stabbing, Dull ache most of the time,
crampy? Changed over time? sharp with overhead reaching
Aggravating Factors Does anything make it worse? Reaching overhead, lifting,
sleeping on that side
Relieving Factors Does anything make it better? Rest and ice help a little
Treatments & Response Have you tried anything? Did it help? Ibuprofen — some days 3 tabs
twice a day, mild relief
Severity Does it cause pain? Rate 1–10? 6/10 with movement, 2/10 at
rest
,WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
SAY “Okay, I understand you're experiencing [REPEAT OLDCARTS SUMMARY]. To move toward a diagnosis and
treatment plan, I need to conduct a more thorough health history and physical exam. This will require some more in-
depth questions and a hands-on assessment. Would that be okay with you?”
Medical / Surgical / Hospitalization / Vaccination History
Category Question Response
Medical Hx (year dx'd) Any significant past medical history? What year
diagnosed?
Surgical Hx (type & year) Any surgeries? Year? Complications with
anesthesia/recovery?
Hospitalizations Ever hospitalized overnight? Reason, length, year?
Vaccinations Are you up to date on vaccinations?
Medications, Allergies
Category Question Response
Prescriptions Any prescription meds? Dose, frequency, route?
(dose/timing/last dose) Last dose?
OTC Medications Any OTC meds? Dose, frequency, route? Last dose?
Vitamins/Supplements Any vitamins or supplements? Dose, frequency,
route? Last dose?
Allergies (drug/env/food) Any allergies? What reaction? Mild, moderate,
— reaction & severity severe?
Family History
Relative Question Response
Parents Mother and father still living? How old? If
deceased, age at death & cause? Significant
medical hx?
Siblings Any siblings? Living? Ages? Significant medical hx?
Children Any children? Ages? Significant medical hx?
Social History
SAY “Okay, thank you. Next let's discuss some of your health habits and lifestyle.”
Category Question Response
Marital Status What is your marital status?
Occupation Employed? What do you do? How long?
Occupational hazards/chemicals?
Living Situation Current living situation? Alone or with others?
Safety/Health Hazards Do you feel safe at home and in your community?
Social Support / PHQ-2 Relationships with family/friends? Support
system? Little interest/pleasure or feeling down
over last 2 weeks?
Stressors Any specific stressors right now?
Physical Activity What does your physical activity look like? 30+
min active how often per week?
Sleep Hours of sleep per night? Wake up rested?
Recent Travel Outside the country in the last month? Contact
with anyone overseas?
Sexual History Sexually active? New partners in the last year?
Ever treated for an STI?
Diet Eating/drinking okay? Appetite changes? Typical
day of eating?
,WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
Category Question Response
Tobacco/Alcohol/Substance Current or former tobacco use? Alcohol?
Use Substance use?
Safety Habits Seatbelt/helmet use, texting and driving?
Review of Systems
● Every positive answer here should map to a finding you re-use later during Musculoskeletal/Focused Ortho
— keep this consistent with your shoulder complaint.
Category Question Response
General Fevers, weight change, weakness, fatigue,
unexplained weight gain/loss?
HEENT Headaches/dizziness? Hearing loss, ringing in your
ears, ear pain/drainage? Corrective lenses, vision
changes? Sinus problems? Mouth/throat issues,
difficulty swallowing?
Respiratory Cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing,
Shortness of breath?
Cardiovascular Chest pain (worse with activity)? Unusual
sweating/arm or neck pain? Leg/foot swelling?
Muscle pain, cramping or fatigue in the legs or
arms that occurs during exercise and goes away
with rest? Palpitations?
Gastrointestinal Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
constipation, stool changes, appetite changes,
heartburn?
Genitourinary Change in urinary frequency/amount? Discomfort
when urinating? Blood in your urine?
Metabolic/Endocrine Heat/cold intolerance? Hair changes? Excessive
thirst/insatiable hunger? Energy level changes?
Neurological Numbness/tingling in extremities? Falls in last 3
months? Seizures? New tremors?
Psychiatric Recent mood/anxiety changes or trouble
concentrating?
Integumentary Rashes, hives, lumps, sores, dryness, itching?
New/concerning lumps, nipple discharge?
Musculoskeletal Muscle weakness, back or joint pain/swelling? —
[tie back to shoulder complaint]
Hematologic Bleed/bruise easily? Hx of blood clots or on blood
thinners?
Allergic/Immunologic Recent or recurring infections? New
meds/supplements? Recent vaccinations?
Cancer hx/treatment?
SAY “Great, thank you — you've given me a lot of great information. I'll now perform a physical examination based
on your chief complaint. Do I have your permission to continue with the hands-on physical assessment?”
SAY “Thank you!”
, WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
PART 2 — Physical Examination
Vitals
SAY “Before I take your vitals, can you tell me your current weight?”
● The checklist scores “asks weight” SEPARATELY from taking pulse/resp/BP — say the weight question out loud
even if you already have a documented weight.
● Take Temp, BP, HR, RR, Ht, Wt, BMI, Pain score.
SAY “I'm going to check your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate now.”
General Survey
● Not its own scored line item on the checklist, but required on your documentation form — a quick 10-second read before you touch the
patient.
● Note (to yourself, don't narrate): well- vs ill-appearing, level of consciousness, nutritional status/body habitus, obvious deformities/mobility,
mood/affect, speech, personal hygiene.
Skin
CHECKLIST: Skin (7 pts) — Hands & Nails, Color/Pigmentation, Temperature, Moisture, Texture,
Turgor, Lesions
SAY “Okay, I'm now going to be assessing your skin.”
● Take both of the patient's hands.
● Inspect/palpate: color & pigmentation, temperature, moisture, texture
(pale, clammy, dry, cold, hot, flushed?), turgor (pinch skin, watch for tenting),
any lesions, bruising, or rashes.
● Assess consistency and color of nails; check capillary refill
● Diabetic patient? Also check feet for ulcers.
Head & Face
CHECKLIST: Head & Face (6 pts) — Scalp/Hair/Cranium, Face (CN VII), Temporal Artery, TMJ,
Maxillary Sinuses, Frontal Sinuses
SAY “I'm inspecting your face and scalp for any irregularities. Have you noticed any unusual
hair loss, I see you shave your head?”
● Inspect hair distribution (even/uneven), scalp for lice/nits/lesions/bumps.
● Palpate scalp for tenderness; palpate cranium for nodules, masses, depressions.
SAY “Do you have any pain or tenderness in your head or face?”
○ Face appears smooth/symmetrical, no nodules or masses.
Advanced Health Assessment — Video Script
Personal reference only — organized in the exact order of the grading checklist
How to read this script
This follows the order of your Comprehensive Health Assessment Techniques Checklist, section by section, so you can
move through the video and mentally check items off as you go.
SAY = say this out loud to the patient / camera (exact wording, adjust naturally in the moment).
• Plain bullets = what you physically do (do NOT narrate findings unless the bullet is a SAY line).
Reminder = easy-to-forget grading item — a note to yourself, not something you say.
CHECKLIST = the exact rubric line items that section covers, so you can confirm you hit all of them before moving
on.
Chief complaint has been changed to SHOULDER PAIN throughout (this lines up with the 5 required shoulder special
tests in the Focused Orthopedic Exam — hip pain has no dedicated test on your rubric, so shoulder is the safer
choice).
PART 1 — Introduction & Health History
CHECKLIST: Health History (9 pts) — Chief Complaint, HPI/Focused Orthopedic, Medications, Allergies, Medical Hx,
Vaccinations, Family Hx, Social Hx, Review of Systems
Opening / Identification / Consent
SAY “Hi, my name is and I am a Nurse Practitioner student with WGU.”
SAY “Before we start, do I have your permission to assess and treat you today?”
SAY “Perfect, thank you. Now can you tell me your first and last name, please?”
● Verbalize the patient's name — it's a rubric requirement.
SAY “Thank you — may I call you by your first name?”
SAY “And can you tell me today's date?”
SAY “For safety purposes, can you please tell me your date of birth?”
SAY “Thank you. Now, if you're comfortable sharing, what gender do you identify as?”
SAY “Thank you again. Now please tell me, what brings you in today?”
Chief Complaint & HPI — OLDCARTS (Shoulder Pain)
SAY “Okay, let's talk about that a little more.”
Category Question Response
Onset When did it start? A few months ago
Location Where is it located? Any spread or other areas? Left shoulder, sometimes
radiates down the upper arm
Duration How long does it last? Does it come and go? It’s consistent, worse with
movement
Characteristics Can you describe it? Dull, aching, sharp, stabbing, Dull ache most of the time,
crampy? Changed over time? sharp with overhead reaching
Aggravating Factors Does anything make it worse? Reaching overhead, lifting,
sleeping on that side
Relieving Factors Does anything make it better? Rest and ice help a little
Treatments & Response Have you tried anything? Did it help? Ibuprofen — some days 3 tabs
twice a day, mild relief
Severity Does it cause pain? Rate 1–10? 6/10 with movement, 2/10 at
rest
,WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
SAY “Okay, I understand you're experiencing [REPEAT OLDCARTS SUMMARY]. To move toward a diagnosis and
treatment plan, I need to conduct a more thorough health history and physical exam. This will require some more in-
depth questions and a hands-on assessment. Would that be okay with you?”
Medical / Surgical / Hospitalization / Vaccination History
Category Question Response
Medical Hx (year dx'd) Any significant past medical history? What year
diagnosed?
Surgical Hx (type & year) Any surgeries? Year? Complications with
anesthesia/recovery?
Hospitalizations Ever hospitalized overnight? Reason, length, year?
Vaccinations Are you up to date on vaccinations?
Medications, Allergies
Category Question Response
Prescriptions Any prescription meds? Dose, frequency, route?
(dose/timing/last dose) Last dose?
OTC Medications Any OTC meds? Dose, frequency, route? Last dose?
Vitamins/Supplements Any vitamins or supplements? Dose, frequency,
route? Last dose?
Allergies (drug/env/food) Any allergies? What reaction? Mild, moderate,
— reaction & severity severe?
Family History
Relative Question Response
Parents Mother and father still living? How old? If
deceased, age at death & cause? Significant
medical hx?
Siblings Any siblings? Living? Ages? Significant medical hx?
Children Any children? Ages? Significant medical hx?
Social History
SAY “Okay, thank you. Next let's discuss some of your health habits and lifestyle.”
Category Question Response
Marital Status What is your marital status?
Occupation Employed? What do you do? How long?
Occupational hazards/chemicals?
Living Situation Current living situation? Alone or with others?
Safety/Health Hazards Do you feel safe at home and in your community?
Social Support / PHQ-2 Relationships with family/friends? Support
system? Little interest/pleasure or feeling down
over last 2 weeks?
Stressors Any specific stressors right now?
Physical Activity What does your physical activity look like? 30+
min active how often per week?
Sleep Hours of sleep per night? Wake up rested?
Recent Travel Outside the country in the last month? Contact
with anyone overseas?
Sexual History Sexually active? New partners in the last year?
Ever treated for an STI?
Diet Eating/drinking okay? Appetite changes? Typical
day of eating?
,WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
Category Question Response
Tobacco/Alcohol/Substance Current or former tobacco use? Alcohol?
Use Substance use?
Safety Habits Seatbelt/helmet use, texting and driving?
Review of Systems
● Every positive answer here should map to a finding you re-use later during Musculoskeletal/Focused Ortho
— keep this consistent with your shoulder complaint.
Category Question Response
General Fevers, weight change, weakness, fatigue,
unexplained weight gain/loss?
HEENT Headaches/dizziness? Hearing loss, ringing in your
ears, ear pain/drainage? Corrective lenses, vision
changes? Sinus problems? Mouth/throat issues,
difficulty swallowing?
Respiratory Cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing,
Shortness of breath?
Cardiovascular Chest pain (worse with activity)? Unusual
sweating/arm or neck pain? Leg/foot swelling?
Muscle pain, cramping or fatigue in the legs or
arms that occurs during exercise and goes away
with rest? Palpitations?
Gastrointestinal Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
constipation, stool changes, appetite changes,
heartburn?
Genitourinary Change in urinary frequency/amount? Discomfort
when urinating? Blood in your urine?
Metabolic/Endocrine Heat/cold intolerance? Hair changes? Excessive
thirst/insatiable hunger? Energy level changes?
Neurological Numbness/tingling in extremities? Falls in last 3
months? Seizures? New tremors?
Psychiatric Recent mood/anxiety changes or trouble
concentrating?
Integumentary Rashes, hives, lumps, sores, dryness, itching?
New/concerning lumps, nipple discharge?
Musculoskeletal Muscle weakness, back or joint pain/swelling? —
[tie back to shoulder complaint]
Hematologic Bleed/bruise easily? Hx of blood clots or on blood
thinners?
Allergic/Immunologic Recent or recurring infections? New
meds/supplements? Recent vaccinations?
Cancer hx/treatment?
SAY “Great, thank you — you've given me a lot of great information. I'll now perform a physical examination based
on your chief complaint. Do I have your permission to continue with the hands-on physical assessment?”
SAY “Thank you!”
, WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment Video Script & Techniques Checklist
PART 2 — Physical Examination
Vitals
SAY “Before I take your vitals, can you tell me your current weight?”
● The checklist scores “asks weight” SEPARATELY from taking pulse/resp/BP — say the weight question out loud
even if you already have a documented weight.
● Take Temp, BP, HR, RR, Ht, Wt, BMI, Pain score.
SAY “I'm going to check your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate now.”
General Survey
● Not its own scored line item on the checklist, but required on your documentation form — a quick 10-second read before you touch the
patient.
● Note (to yourself, don't narrate): well- vs ill-appearing, level of consciousness, nutritional status/body habitus, obvious deformities/mobility,
mood/affect, speech, personal hygiene.
Skin
CHECKLIST: Skin (7 pts) — Hands & Nails, Color/Pigmentation, Temperature, Moisture, Texture,
Turgor, Lesions
SAY “Okay, I'm now going to be assessing your skin.”
● Take both of the patient's hands.
● Inspect/palpate: color & pigmentation, temperature, moisture, texture
(pale, clammy, dry, cold, hot, flushed?), turgor (pinch skin, watch for tenting),
any lesions, bruising, or rashes.
● Assess consistency and color of nails; check capillary refill
● Diabetic patient? Also check feet for ulcers.
Head & Face
CHECKLIST: Head & Face (6 pts) — Scalp/Hair/Cranium, Face (CN VII), Temporal Artery, TMJ,
Maxillary Sinuses, Frontal Sinuses
SAY “I'm inspecting your face and scalp for any irregularities. Have you noticed any unusual
hair loss, I see you shave your head?”
● Inspect hair distribution (even/uneven), scalp for lice/nits/lesions/bumps.
● Palpate scalp for tenderness; palpate cranium for nodules, masses, depressions.
SAY “Do you have any pain or tenderness in your head or face?”
○ Face appears smooth/symmetrical, no nodules or masses.
