Course Syllabus
MSN 572: Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan
4 Credits
Prerequisites: MSN 571
Corequisites: Attend corresponding four-day campus/virtual immersion. The school reserves the
right to decide the immersion format based on local and state guidelines.
Required Textbook and Readings
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Bickley, L. S. (2021). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History
Taking. (13th ed.).Philadelphia: Wolters-Kluwer. ISBN: 9781975109943
Bickley, L. S. (2013). Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History
Taking. (8th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters-Kluwer. ISBN: 978469338488
Hagan (2017). Bright Futures Pocket Guide (4th Edition). American Academy of
Pediatrics. (ISBN 9781610020220) OR download the free text pocket guide from
AAP at: Bright Futures - Scroll to find and click on Pocket Guide
https://brightfutures.aap.org/materials-and-tools/guidelines-and-pocket-
guide/Pages/default.aspx
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2017). Electronic Preventive Services Selector
(ePSS). Version 3.10.26. USPSTF Prevention TaskForce. Free application; please download
platforms appropriate to your mobile device. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uspstf-prevention-
taskforce/id311852560
Hipposoft LLC (2017). Physical Exam Essentials, version 3.0. Mobile application; please
download platform appropriate to your device. for Android: http://bit.ly/pexandroid
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/physical-exam-essentials/id343091870?mt=8 (iPhone)
Shadow Health (2018). Meet Tina Jones: Your digital standardized patient. Specific
enrollment instructions will be provided in week 1.
Course Syllabus Version 2021-01-05 (21v.1) 1
, Course Syllabus
Society of Teachers in Family Medicine (STFM) (2017). Shots. Free application; please
download platforms appropriate to your mobile device. http://www.immunization.org
Course Description
The focus of this course for advanced practice nursing students is to expand upon basic health
assessment skills and includes strategies for history taking and for physical, functional,
developmental, and psychosocial assessment that recognizes and includes normal individual,
cultural, and developmental variations and pathophysiological changes across the lifespan.
Students will apply comprehensive and focused data collection along with physical examination
strategies to determine a differential diagnosis. An overview of appropriate protocols for
performing health screening, ordering, performing, and interpreting laboratory, radiographic, and
other diagnostic data, as well as an introduction to Subjective/Objective/Assessment/Plan
(SOAP) note format documentation and record keeping is included.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course the student should be able to complete the following, which align
with the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) in parenthesis:
1. Perform, and document both a comprehensive and a focused (SOAP-format) history and
physical examination for patients across the lifespan. (PLO 4,7,9)
2. Organize data obtained in the history and physical examination to create a differential
diagnosis. (PLO 1,7,9)
3. Modify history-taking strategies and combine specific physical examination techniques to
delimit the patient’s chief complaint. (PLO 3)
4. Prepare and document a risk assessment of the client including lifestyle and other risk
factors. (PLO 4,7,8)
5. Associate historical data and assessment findings with physiologic changes and/or
underlying pathology. (PLO 6,7,9)
6. Associate signs and symptoms of psychopathology using appropriate psychosocial
assessment tools. (PLO 5,9)
7. Begin to establish differential diagnoses based on synthesis of assessment data. (PLO
7,9)
8. Begin to formulate a basic plan of care for health maintenance and disease prevention
for clients across the lifespan. (PLO 4,5,6)
9. Learn to accurately and professionally document all findings, interactions, and
interventions provided during the patient visit, including but not limited to diagnosis,
therapeutic treatment, patient education, and follow up planning. (PLO 4)
Course Syllabus Version 2021-01-05 (21v.1) 2
, Course Syllabus
MSN Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing, the student will be able to:
Goal: Literacy
1. Evaluate and apply evidence-based findings to advanced nursing roles.
2. Integrate cultural competence into advanced nursing roles.
3. Integrate the Master Essential’s and specialty standards into the advanced nursing role.
Goal: Communication
4. Compose professional written communication for advanced nursing roles.
5. Speak professionally in advanced nursing roles.
6. Demonstrate the advanced nursing role through leadership, collaboration, and caring
science to improve health outcomes.
Goal: Reasoning
7. Evaluate and apply quantitative and qualitative data to validate and guide decision
making relevant to health outcomes.
8. Integrate ethical reasoning into advocacy and decision making.
9. Objectively evaluate and synthesize information in advanced nursing roles.
Course Grades and Assignments Breakdown
Graded Item # of Points Total Points %
Assignments
Class Participation and 8 5 40 4%
Preparation
Immersion Participation and 1 60 60 6%
Assignments*
History & Body System Exam 6 45 270 27%
Videos & Documentation**
Shadow Health Weekly Modules 7 20 140 14%
Weekly Unit Quizzes 7 14.3 100 10%
Lab Group Assignment 1 47 47 4.7%
(group project)
Course Syllabus Version 2021-01-05 (21v.1) 3
MSN 572: Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan
4 Credits
Prerequisites: MSN 571
Corequisites: Attend corresponding four-day campus/virtual immersion. The school reserves the
right to decide the immersion format based on local and state guidelines.
Required Textbook and Readings
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Bickley, L. S. (2021). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History
Taking. (13th ed.).Philadelphia: Wolters-Kluwer. ISBN: 9781975109943
Bickley, L. S. (2013). Bates’ Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History
Taking. (8th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters-Kluwer. ISBN: 978469338488
Hagan (2017). Bright Futures Pocket Guide (4th Edition). American Academy of
Pediatrics. (ISBN 9781610020220) OR download the free text pocket guide from
AAP at: Bright Futures - Scroll to find and click on Pocket Guide
https://brightfutures.aap.org/materials-and-tools/guidelines-and-pocket-
guide/Pages/default.aspx
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2017). Electronic Preventive Services Selector
(ePSS). Version 3.10.26. USPSTF Prevention TaskForce. Free application; please download
platforms appropriate to your mobile device. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uspstf-prevention-
taskforce/id311852560
Hipposoft LLC (2017). Physical Exam Essentials, version 3.0. Mobile application; please
download platform appropriate to your device. for Android: http://bit.ly/pexandroid
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/physical-exam-essentials/id343091870?mt=8 (iPhone)
Shadow Health (2018). Meet Tina Jones: Your digital standardized patient. Specific
enrollment instructions will be provided in week 1.
Course Syllabus Version 2021-01-05 (21v.1) 1
, Course Syllabus
Society of Teachers in Family Medicine (STFM) (2017). Shots. Free application; please
download platforms appropriate to your mobile device. http://www.immunization.org
Course Description
The focus of this course for advanced practice nursing students is to expand upon basic health
assessment skills and includes strategies for history taking and for physical, functional,
developmental, and psychosocial assessment that recognizes and includes normal individual,
cultural, and developmental variations and pathophysiological changes across the lifespan.
Students will apply comprehensive and focused data collection along with physical examination
strategies to determine a differential diagnosis. An overview of appropriate protocols for
performing health screening, ordering, performing, and interpreting laboratory, radiographic, and
other diagnostic data, as well as an introduction to Subjective/Objective/Assessment/Plan
(SOAP) note format documentation and record keeping is included.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course the student should be able to complete the following, which align
with the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) in parenthesis:
1. Perform, and document both a comprehensive and a focused (SOAP-format) history and
physical examination for patients across the lifespan. (PLO 4,7,9)
2. Organize data obtained in the history and physical examination to create a differential
diagnosis. (PLO 1,7,9)
3. Modify history-taking strategies and combine specific physical examination techniques to
delimit the patient’s chief complaint. (PLO 3)
4. Prepare and document a risk assessment of the client including lifestyle and other risk
factors. (PLO 4,7,8)
5. Associate historical data and assessment findings with physiologic changes and/or
underlying pathology. (PLO 6,7,9)
6. Associate signs and symptoms of psychopathology using appropriate psychosocial
assessment tools. (PLO 5,9)
7. Begin to establish differential diagnoses based on synthesis of assessment data. (PLO
7,9)
8. Begin to formulate a basic plan of care for health maintenance and disease prevention
for clients across the lifespan. (PLO 4,5,6)
9. Learn to accurately and professionally document all findings, interactions, and
interventions provided during the patient visit, including but not limited to diagnosis,
therapeutic treatment, patient education, and follow up planning. (PLO 4)
Course Syllabus Version 2021-01-05 (21v.1) 2
, Course Syllabus
MSN Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nursing, the student will be able to:
Goal: Literacy
1. Evaluate and apply evidence-based findings to advanced nursing roles.
2. Integrate cultural competence into advanced nursing roles.
3. Integrate the Master Essential’s and specialty standards into the advanced nursing role.
Goal: Communication
4. Compose professional written communication for advanced nursing roles.
5. Speak professionally in advanced nursing roles.
6. Demonstrate the advanced nursing role through leadership, collaboration, and caring
science to improve health outcomes.
Goal: Reasoning
7. Evaluate and apply quantitative and qualitative data to validate and guide decision
making relevant to health outcomes.
8. Integrate ethical reasoning into advocacy and decision making.
9. Objectively evaluate and synthesize information in advanced nursing roles.
Course Grades and Assignments Breakdown
Graded Item # of Points Total Points %
Assignments
Class Participation and 8 5 40 4%
Preparation
Immersion Participation and 1 60 60 6%
Assignments*
History & Body System Exam 6 45 270 27%
Videos & Documentation**
Shadow Health Weekly Modules 7 20 140 14%
Weekly Unit Quizzes 7 14.3 100 10%
Lab Group Assignment 1 47 47 4.7%
(group project)
Course Syllabus Version 2021-01-05 (21v.1) 3
