WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
WGU D117
ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
FOR THE ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE
Comprehensive Study Summary, Video Script Blueprint
& Health Assessment Techniques Checklist
2026 UPDATED EDITION
Independent educational study aid
Course code D117
Document purpose Study and revision
Source basis Course title and general subject knowledge
Independent Study Guide • Page 1
, WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Document Information Details
Course code D117
Course title Advanced Health Assessment for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Comprehensive Study Summary, Video Script Blueprint & Health
Study-guide subtitle
Assessment Techniques Checklist
Edition 2026 Updated Edition — as stated in the user-supplied title
Academic year verification Official academic year and syllabus not verified
Independent educational study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by,
Document status
or published by WGU.
Course title only; no official test bank, syllabus, or proprietary
Source basis material was supplied. Content is independently written general
advanced health assessment knowledge.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Course Overview
1.1 Subject areas
1.2 Learning objectives
1.3 Concept relationships
1.4 Verified versus general knowledge
2. Chapter 1 — Foundations of Advanced Health Assessment
2.1 Definition and purpose
2.2 Clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice
2.3 Patient-centered and culturally responsive assessment
2.4 Diagnostic accuracy and common errors
3. Chapter 2 — Communication, History Taking, and Documentation
3.1 Communication principles
3.2 Components of the health history
3.3 History frameworks: OLDCARTS and OPQRST
3.4 Review of systems
3.5 Social determinants and telehealth history
3.6 Documentation principles
4. Chapter 3 — General Survey, Vital Signs, and Pain
4.1 General survey
4.2 Vital signs
4.3 Orthostatic assessment
4.4 Pain assessment
5. Chapter 4 — Physical Examination Techniques and Infection Control
Independent Study Guide • Page 2
, WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
5.1 Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
5.2 Examination sequence
5.3 Standard precautions and PPE
5.4 Patient comfort, privacy, and consent
6. Chapter 5 — Skin, Hair, Nails, and Lymphatic System
6.1 Skin assessment
6.2 Lesion description
6.3 Hair and nails
6.4 Lymphatic assessment
6.5 Red flags and distinctions
7. Chapter 6 — HEENT and Neck
7.1 Head and face
7.2 Eyes
7.3 Ears
7.4 Nose, sinuses, mouth, and throat
7.5 Neck, thyroid, and lymph nodes
8. Chapter 7 — Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Systems
8.1 Cardiovascular history and inspection
8.2 Heart sounds and murmurs
8.3 Peripheral vascular assessment
8.4 Edema, JVD, and red flags
9. Chapter 8 — Respiratory System
9.1 Respiratory history
9.2 Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
9.3 Breath sounds and adventitious sounds
9.4 Red flags and distinctions
10. Chapter 9 — Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System
10.1 Abdominal history
10.2 Examination sequence
10.3 Organ assessment
10.4 Red flags and common misconceptions
11. Chapter 10 — Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Systems
11.1 Musculoskeletal assessment
11.2 Neurologic assessment
11.3 Mental status and cranial nerves
11.4 Gait, strength, reflexes, and sensation
11.5 Red flags
12. Chapter 11 — Genitourinary, Breast, and Reproductive Health
12.1 Sensitive examination principles
Independent Study Guide • Page 3
WGU D117
ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
FOR THE ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE
Comprehensive Study Summary, Video Script Blueprint
& Health Assessment Techniques Checklist
2026 UPDATED EDITION
Independent educational study aid
Course code D117
Document purpose Study and revision
Source basis Course title and general subject knowledge
Independent Study Guide • Page 1
, WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Document Information Details
Course code D117
Course title Advanced Health Assessment for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Comprehensive Study Summary, Video Script Blueprint & Health
Study-guide subtitle
Assessment Techniques Checklist
Edition 2026 Updated Edition — as stated in the user-supplied title
Academic year verification Official academic year and syllabus not verified
Independent educational study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by,
Document status
or published by WGU.
Course title only; no official test bank, syllabus, or proprietary
Source basis material was supplied. Content is independently written general
advanced health assessment knowledge.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Course Overview
1.1 Subject areas
1.2 Learning objectives
1.3 Concept relationships
1.4 Verified versus general knowledge
2. Chapter 1 — Foundations of Advanced Health Assessment
2.1 Definition and purpose
2.2 Clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice
2.3 Patient-centered and culturally responsive assessment
2.4 Diagnostic accuracy and common errors
3. Chapter 2 — Communication, History Taking, and Documentation
3.1 Communication principles
3.2 Components of the health history
3.3 History frameworks: OLDCARTS and OPQRST
3.4 Review of systems
3.5 Social determinants and telehealth history
3.6 Documentation principles
4. Chapter 3 — General Survey, Vital Signs, and Pain
4.1 General survey
4.2 Vital signs
4.3 Orthostatic assessment
4.4 Pain assessment
5. Chapter 4 — Physical Examination Techniques and Infection Control
Independent Study Guide • Page 2
, WGU D117 | ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
5.1 Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
5.2 Examination sequence
5.3 Standard precautions and PPE
5.4 Patient comfort, privacy, and consent
6. Chapter 5 — Skin, Hair, Nails, and Lymphatic System
6.1 Skin assessment
6.2 Lesion description
6.3 Hair and nails
6.4 Lymphatic assessment
6.5 Red flags and distinctions
7. Chapter 6 — HEENT and Neck
7.1 Head and face
7.2 Eyes
7.3 Ears
7.4 Nose, sinuses, mouth, and throat
7.5 Neck, thyroid, and lymph nodes
8. Chapter 7 — Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Systems
8.1 Cardiovascular history and inspection
8.2 Heart sounds and murmurs
8.3 Peripheral vascular assessment
8.4 Edema, JVD, and red flags
9. Chapter 8 — Respiratory System
9.1 Respiratory history
9.2 Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
9.3 Breath sounds and adventitious sounds
9.4 Red flags and distinctions
10. Chapter 9 — Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System
10.1 Abdominal history
10.2 Examination sequence
10.3 Organ assessment
10.4 Red flags and common misconceptions
11. Chapter 10 — Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Systems
11.1 Musculoskeletal assessment
11.2 Neurologic assessment
11.3 Mental status and cranial nerves
11.4 Gait, strength, reflexes, and sensation
11.5 Red flags
12. Chapter 11 — Genitourinary, Breast, and Reproductive Health
12.1 Sensitive examination principles
Independent Study Guide • Page 3
