WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT | 2026–2027
Physical Examination Techniques & Checklist Review
12 performance-practice stations with documentation prompts and targeted questions
Performance practice: how to use the checklists
• Practice with trained supervision, appropriate equipment, and consent; do not use a video or workbook in place of
clinical sign-off.
• Mark each performed step; an unchecked item is not a normal finding.
• For an examination involving breast, genital, pelvic, prostate or rectal areas, apply specific consent, appropriate
chaperone practices, privacy, and institutional policy.
• Tasks listed here are a self-study framework, not an official WGU scoring rubric.
Preparation, safety & consent
[ ] 1. Introduce self and confirm patient identity with two approved identifiers
[ ] 2. Explain examination sequence and ask permission before contact
[ ] 3. Perform hand hygiene and select appropriate precautions
[ ] 4. Ask about pain, mobility limits, accessibility and preferred communication
[ ] 5. Provide privacy, appropriate draping, and an offer of a chaperone for sensitive exams
[ ] 6. Confirm equipment is functioning and clean
[ ] 7. Document omissions, refusals, and limitations without claiming normality
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
General survey & vital signs
[ ] 1. Observe breathing effort, distress, alertness, posture and gait where safe
[ ] 2. Measure and record temperature and heart rate
[ ] 3. Count respirations accurately and note effort
[ ] 4. Use appropriate cuff size, position, and technique for blood pressure
[ ] 5. Record oxygen saturation with awareness of signal limitations
[ ] 6. Assess pain and focused red-flag symptoms
[ ] 7. Review height/weight when clinically relevant and interpret in context
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Head, ears, eyes, nose & throat
[ ] 1. Inspect head and face for symmetry and abnormalities
[ ] 2. Assess visual symptoms and visual acuity when indicated
[ ] 3. Inspect external eyes and pupils; check extraocular movements
[ ] 4. Inspect external ears and perform otoscopy when indicated
[ ] 5. Assess hearing symptoms and bedside tests where relevant
[ ] 6. Inspect nose, oral mucosa, oropharynx as complaint indicates
[ ] 7. Examine neck and lymph nodes; describe asymmetry or masses
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Cardiovascular
[ ] 1. Assess chest symptoms and family cardiovascular history
INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NOT A WGU ASSESSMENT
, WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT | 2026–2027
[ ] 2. Observe color, perfusion, edema and jugular venous findings as appropriate
[ ] 3. Inspect/palpate precordium when indicated
[ ] 4. Auscultate standard cardiac areas, rate and rhythm
[ ] 5. Describe any murmur by timing, location and character
[ ] 6. Compare peripheral pulses and edema bilaterally
[ ] 7. Escalate chest pain, hypotension, syncope, or concerning findings
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Respiratory
[ ] 1. Check respiratory rate, work of breathing and ability to speak
[ ] 2. Inspect chest expansion, symmetry and use of accessory muscles
[ ] 3. Palpate chest expansion when appropriate
[ ] 4. Percuss comparative regions where indicated
[ ] 5. Auscultate symmetric fields front and back
[ ] 6. Describe wheezes/crackles and their precise locations
[ ] 7. Respond to hypoxemia, severe breathlessness, or stridor promptly
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Abdominal
[ ] 1. Ask about pain, bowel changes, bleeding and urinary symptoms
[ ] 2. Explain and obtain consent with suitable positioning
[ ] 3. Inspect shape, scars, distension, and skin
[ ] 4. Auscultate bowel sounds prior to percussion/palpation
[ ] 5. Percuss as indicated; begin palpation gently
[ ] 6. Examine painful areas last and note guarding or masses
[ ] 7. Escalate concerning peritoneal signs or instability
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Neurologic
[ ] 1. Assess orientation, speech and baseline mental status
[ ] 2. Check pupils and targeted cranial nerves
[ ] 3. Evaluate upper/lower strength with side-to-side comparison
[ ] 4. Assess selected sensation and deep tendon reflexes
[ ] 5. Evaluate coordination and pronator drift if appropriate
[ ] 6. Assess gait and balance only with fall precautions
[ ] 7. Escalate new focal deficits or spinal compression red flags
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Musculoskeletal
[ ] 1. Inspect joints, posture and deformity
[ ] 2. Ask location and timing of pain, trauma and function
[ ] 3. Compare active and passive range of motion when appropriate
[ ] 4. Assess joint swelling, warmth or erythema
INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NOT A WGU ASSESSMENT
Physical Examination Techniques & Checklist Review
12 performance-practice stations with documentation prompts and targeted questions
Performance practice: how to use the checklists
• Practice with trained supervision, appropriate equipment, and consent; do not use a video or workbook in place of
clinical sign-off.
• Mark each performed step; an unchecked item is not a normal finding.
• For an examination involving breast, genital, pelvic, prostate or rectal areas, apply specific consent, appropriate
chaperone practices, privacy, and institutional policy.
• Tasks listed here are a self-study framework, not an official WGU scoring rubric.
Preparation, safety & consent
[ ] 1. Introduce self and confirm patient identity with two approved identifiers
[ ] 2. Explain examination sequence and ask permission before contact
[ ] 3. Perform hand hygiene and select appropriate precautions
[ ] 4. Ask about pain, mobility limits, accessibility and preferred communication
[ ] 5. Provide privacy, appropriate draping, and an offer of a chaperone for sensitive exams
[ ] 6. Confirm equipment is functioning and clean
[ ] 7. Document omissions, refusals, and limitations without claiming normality
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
General survey & vital signs
[ ] 1. Observe breathing effort, distress, alertness, posture and gait where safe
[ ] 2. Measure and record temperature and heart rate
[ ] 3. Count respirations accurately and note effort
[ ] 4. Use appropriate cuff size, position, and technique for blood pressure
[ ] 5. Record oxygen saturation with awareness of signal limitations
[ ] 6. Assess pain and focused red-flag symptoms
[ ] 7. Review height/weight when clinically relevant and interpret in context
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Head, ears, eyes, nose & throat
[ ] 1. Inspect head and face for symmetry and abnormalities
[ ] 2. Assess visual symptoms and visual acuity when indicated
[ ] 3. Inspect external eyes and pupils; check extraocular movements
[ ] 4. Inspect external ears and perform otoscopy when indicated
[ ] 5. Assess hearing symptoms and bedside tests where relevant
[ ] 6. Inspect nose, oral mucosa, oropharynx as complaint indicates
[ ] 7. Examine neck and lymph nodes; describe asymmetry or masses
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Cardiovascular
[ ] 1. Assess chest symptoms and family cardiovascular history
INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NOT A WGU ASSESSMENT
, WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT | 2026–2027
[ ] 2. Observe color, perfusion, edema and jugular venous findings as appropriate
[ ] 3. Inspect/palpate precordium when indicated
[ ] 4. Auscultate standard cardiac areas, rate and rhythm
[ ] 5. Describe any murmur by timing, location and character
[ ] 6. Compare peripheral pulses and edema bilaterally
[ ] 7. Escalate chest pain, hypotension, syncope, or concerning findings
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Respiratory
[ ] 1. Check respiratory rate, work of breathing and ability to speak
[ ] 2. Inspect chest expansion, symmetry and use of accessory muscles
[ ] 3. Palpate chest expansion when appropriate
[ ] 4. Percuss comparative regions where indicated
[ ] 5. Auscultate symmetric fields front and back
[ ] 6. Describe wheezes/crackles and their precise locations
[ ] 7. Respond to hypoxemia, severe breathlessness, or stridor promptly
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Abdominal
[ ] 1. Ask about pain, bowel changes, bleeding and urinary symptoms
[ ] 2. Explain and obtain consent with suitable positioning
[ ] 3. Inspect shape, scars, distension, and skin
[ ] 4. Auscultate bowel sounds prior to percussion/palpation
[ ] 5. Percuss as indicated; begin palpation gently
[ ] 6. Examine painful areas last and note guarding or masses
[ ] 7. Escalate concerning peritoneal signs or instability
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Neurologic
[ ] 1. Assess orientation, speech and baseline mental status
[ ] 2. Check pupils and targeted cranial nerves
[ ] 3. Evaluate upper/lower strength with side-to-side comparison
[ ] 4. Assess selected sensation and deep tendon reflexes
[ ] 5. Evaluate coordination and pronator drift if appropriate
[ ] 6. Assess gait and balance only with fall precautions
[ ] 7. Escalate new focal deficits or spinal compression red flags
Observed findings / practice feedback: ______________________________________________________________
Musculoskeletal
[ ] 1. Inspect joints, posture and deformity
[ ] 2. Ask location and timing of pain, trauma and function
[ ] 3. Compare active and passive range of motion when appropriate
[ ] 4. Assess joint swelling, warmth or erythema
INDEPENDENT STUDY RESOURCE • NOT A WGU ASSESSMENT
