MSN 572 Head-to-Toe Physical Assessment Video: Complete Guide to Passing on Your First Attempt

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Why the MSN 572 Head-to-Toe Video Is the Most High-Stakes Assignment in the Course

If you are currently enrolled in MSN 572: Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan at United States University (USU), you already know this assignment is different from anything else in your program. It is not a written paper you can revise. It is not a discussion post where partial credit softens the blow. The head-to-toe physical assessment video is a must-pass exam — and the syllabus is unambiguous: earn below 84% on both your first and remediation attempts, and you fail the entire course regardless of your overall grade.

That single rule is what makes this assignment generate more anxiety searches, and more calls to services like Gradevia, than any other assignment in the MSN 572 course.

This guide walks you through every dimension of the assignment: the rubric structure, the pre-recording checklist, the 360-degree room scan, consent requirements, how to manage your 60-minute window, which body systems lose students the most points, and what the remediation process actually looks like if you need it. If you would rather have an expert handle the written documentation components while you focus on perfecting the video performance, our team is available — new clients save 30% on their first order, and every order comes with a pass-or-refund guarantee. Reach us on WhatsApp at +1 564-544-6924.

What the Assignment Actually Requires: The Short Version

Before breaking down each component, here is the summary every MSN 572 student needs to bookmark:

• Total points: 183 points
• Passing threshold: 84% = 154 points minimum
• Attempts: First attempt available from Week 5 onward (after attending on-campus immersion). One remediation attempt allowed if you score below 84%.
• Remediation grading: Scores from both attempts are averaged. Maximum grade achievable on remediation is 84%.
• Time limit: 60 minutes from the moment you begin writing on your optional brain-dump sheet (or from the start of the exam if you skip the sheet).
• Patient age requirement: Must be 18 years or older.
• Submission format: Unlisted YouTube link + signed written consent form + completed Head-to-Toe Checklist + copy of your ID (uploaded to dropbox only — not shown on video).
• Editing: Zero tolerance. No pausing, no cuts, no speed adjustments. Any evidence of editing triggers an Academic Integrity violation.

The Four Mandatory Pre-Recording Steps (Missing Any One Earns You a Zero)

The syllabus specifies four requirements that must appear at the very start of every video submission in MSN 572. These apply to your head-to-toe video just as they do to your weekly body system videos. Missing even one of them can result in a grade of zero on the submission.

1. Introduce yourself and state the date. Clearly say your name and today’s date before anything else. This is a documentation and integrity requirement — it timestamps your recording and confirms you are the student submitting the work.

2. Perform a 360-degree room scan. Pan your camera slowly to show all four walls, the ceiling, and the floor. This scan must occur before the patient exam begins. The purpose is to confirm that no notes, reference sheets, or assistive devices are within reach. The only permitted aid is your optional brain-dump sheet — which must be shown blank before you begin writing on it.

3. Obtain verbal consent on camera. Ask your patient directly, on video, whether they consent to the recorded assessment and to the video being uploaded as unlisted on YouTube for grading purposes. The patient must be 18 or older and must answer audibly. This is not optional language — the syllabus requires that you explain your role, explain where the video will go, and receive a clear verbal yes.

4. Upload the video as unlisted on YouTube. No other submission format is accepted. Once processed, paste the YouTube URL into the assignment dropbox alongside your documentation. Check the link yourself before submitting — a private link or a broken URL means your instructor cannot grade the video.

Understanding the 183-Point Rubric

The head-to-toe exam is graded against a detailed skills check-off rubric that spans all major body systems. While the exact internal rubric is only available inside your D2L course, the syllabus confirms the exam uses the MSN 553 and MSN 572 Final Physical Exam Skills Check-Off Rubric format. Based on the course structure and the weekly body system videos you complete throughout the term, the rubric evaluates the following systems and components:

General Survey and Vital Signs

This section is assessed first and sets the tone for the entire exam. Examiners look for a professional demeanor, proper patient positioning, and accurate measurement technique. Key items include:

• Stating blood pressure in both arms with the patient supine and upright (to detect orthostatic changes)
• Height, weight, and BMI documentation
• Verbalizing and documenting all vital signs

Common mistake: Students who rush through vital signs to save time frequently lose multiple points here. Do not abbreviate this section.

Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT)

HEENT is heavily weighted and involves a range of inspection and palpation techniques. Students are evaluated on cranial nerve assessment (particularly CN II, III, IV, VI for extraocular movements, CN VIII for hearing), otoscopic exam technique, assessment of the sinuses, oral cavity, and lymph nodes of the head and neck. Inspecting and palpating the trachea for deviation and examining the thyroid gland are separate rubric line items — do not skip either.

Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular assessment includes cardiac auscultation across all four valves in proper sequence (aortic, pulmonic, Erb’s point, tricuspid, mitral), assessment for JVD, peripheral pulses bilaterally, and capillary refill. The rubric requires students to verbalize what they are listening for at each landmark.

Pulmonary and Thorax

This section evaluates anterior and posterior lung auscultation, percussion of the lung fields, assessment of respiratory pattern, and identification of landmarks. Students frequently lose points by failing to complete both the anterior and posterior exam — the exam is comprehensive, not focused.

Abdominal System

The abdomen must be assessed in the correct sequence: inspection, auscultation (before palpation to avoid falsely stimulating bowel sounds), then percussion and palpation. Light and deep palpation are both required. Students should assess all four quadrants and verbalize findings throughout.

Musculoskeletal System

Range of motion assessment for major joints, muscle strength testing, and assessment of gait and coordination fall under this section. The musculoskeletal exam is one area where students who practiced with their weekly body system video submission in Week 7 tend to score consistently better.

Neurological System

Cranial nerve testing, deep tendon reflexes, cerebellar function (finger-nose test, Romberg), and sensory testing are all evaluated. This is a dense section — practice the cranial nerve sequence until it is fully memorized, because you cannot reference notes during the exam.

Integumentary, Breast, and Genitourinary

Skin assessment is incorporated throughout the exam rather than in a single isolated block. Students must demonstrate awareness of skin color, turgor, lesions, and moisture across all regions examined. Breast and genitourinary assessments are assessed according to what is appropriate for the patient’s demographics.

Time Management Inside the 60-Minute Window

Sixty minutes sounds generous until you are on camera and realize you have spent 20 minutes on HEENT alone. The following approximate time allocation is based on the scope of the 183-point rubric and the 8-week curriculum sequence that prepares you for it:

If you finish early, use remaining time to verbalize any additional findings you want to document. You may perform a forgotten assessment item later in the video without losing points — the syllabus explicitly permits this. What you cannot do is pause, re-record, or edit.

The Optional Brain-Dump Sheet: Use It Strategically

The syllabus allows a single blank sheet of paper as a memory aid — but with important rules. The sheet must be shown completely blank before you write anything. The moment you write the first word, your 60-minute clock starts. This means you should wait until after you have completed the room scan, pre-recording attestation, and verbal consent before you begin writing.

Use the brain-dump sheet for system sequence order and the cranial nerve numbering — not full sentences. Think of it as a cue card, not a script. Students who try to write detailed notes during setup run out of time late in the exam.

What Happens If You Score Below 84%: The Remediation Process

If your first submission scores below the 84% threshold, you are permitted one remediation attempt. Here is what you need to know:

Your remediation video must also be submitted before the last day of the course — no exceptions. There is no separate extension for remediation attempts. The maximum grade achievable on remediation is 84%, and your final recorded grade for the Head-to-Toe assignment will be the average of your two attempts. For example, if you scored 75% on the first attempt and 84% on remediation, your final grade averages to 79.5% — still a failing score for the assignment.

This averaging structure is the most misunderstood part of the remediation policy. Students often believe that passing remediation saves them. It does not, unless the average of both attempts clears 84%. This makes your first attempt critically important — even a score of 90% on remediation cannot rescue a first attempt in the 60s.

The practical implication: treat your first attempt as your only attempt. Submit only when you have reviewed your own recording against the rubric and are confident you are above 84%.

Documentation Requirements: What to Upload to the Dropbox

The YouTube video link is only one component of the submission. Students who miss the supporting documentation requirements receive a zero regardless of video quality. Confirm that all of the following are uploaded to the D2L dropbox before the deadline:

Written consent form — must be signed and uploaded before the exam takes place. If you record the video before uploading the consent form, your submission may be disqualified.

Head-to-Toe Checklist — the course-specific checklist available in D2L must be completed and submitted. The instructor cannot grade the assignment without it.

ID copy — upload a copy of your photo ID to the dropbox. Do not show your ID on the video — YouTube will flag and restrict the video if your ID appears in the recording.

Common Reasons Students Fail or Score Below 84%

Based on the rubric structure and what is assessed across the 8-week curriculum, these are the most common failure points:

Skipping the mandatory pre-recording steps. No room scan, no consent, or no date/name introduction can result in a zero outright.

Incomplete body systems. Students who forget the posterior lung exam, skip deep tendon reflexes, or omit the thyroid palpation leave rubric points on the table without realizing it.

Poor verbalization. The rubric rewards students who verbalize their findings throughout — not just perform the techniques silently. Narrate every step as if you are dictating a clinical note.

Rushing vital signs. Orthostatic blood pressure measurements in both arms, bilateral pulses, and JVD assessment are all rubric line items. Students who estimate or abbreviate these sections lose multiple points in a cluster.

Environmental issues. The exam environment must simulate a clinical exam room — indoors, quiet, adequate lighting. A video where the instructor cannot clearly see your technique or hear your verbalization receives a zero, not a low score.

Editing violations. Any evidence of pausing, cutting, or video manipulation triggers an Academic Integrity violation — not just a grade deduction.

How Gradevia Supports MSN 572 Students

Gradevia specializes in advanced practice nursing academic support, including MSN 572 documentation assignments at USU and equivalent physical assessment courses at Walden University, GCU, Chamberlain, and Liberty University. Our team — led by Dan Palmer, MSN — has deep experience with the SOAP note formats, write-up rubrics, and documentation standards specific to advanced health assessment courses.

While the head-to-toe video itself must be performed by you, Gradevia can support you with:

• SOAP note write-ups for Weeks 4 and 6 (HEENT and Neurologic)
• Body system exam write-ups for Weeks 3, 5, and 7
• Immersion SOAP note documentation
• Shadow Health module write-ups and documentation
• Week 1 health history documentation and risk assessment write-up
• Group diagnostics workup project (Week 8)

New clients receive 30% off their first order. Every project includes a pass-or-refund guarantee. Message us on WhatsApp at +1 564-544-6924 to discuss your specific assignment needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a family member as my patient for the head-to-toe video? Yes. The patient can be a friend, family member, spouse, or colleague — any adult aged 18 or older who provides verbal consent on camera and written consent before the recording begins.

What if I forget an assessment step partway through? You can perform it later in the video without penalty. The syllabus explicitly states that assessments performed out of sequence do not result in point deductions, provided they are completed within the 60-minute window.

Can my patient be a minor? No. For the head-to-toe video specifically, the patient must be 18 or older. Patients as young as 6 are permitted for weekly body system videos (with parental consent), but not for the head-to-toe exam.

What happens if my YouTube link is broken when I submit? Your instructor cannot grade an inaccessible video. Always verify your link opens correctly and is set to unlisted — not private — before pasting it into the dropbox.

Is there any flexibility on the Week 7 deadline? No. The course closes on Week 8, Day 7, and no submissions are accepted after that point under any circumstances, including technical issues. Plan to submit by Week 6 at the latest to give yourself time for a remediation attempt if needed.

What is the difference between the body system write-ups and the SOAP note format? Weeks 3, 5, and 7 require objective-only write-ups based on physical exam findings. Weeks 4 and 6 require full SOAP notes — Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan — which include subjective history data, differential diagnosis thinking, and a basic plan of care. Confusing the two formats costs points. Gradevia can assist with both.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Nursing-Education-Essentials.pdf

Bickley, L. S. (2021). Bates’ guide to physical examination and history taking (13th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Dains, J. E., Baumann, L. C., & Scheibel, P. (2022). Advanced health assessment and clinical diagnosis in primary care (6th ed.). Elsevier.

Jarvis, C. (2020). Physical examination and health assessment (8th ed.). Elsevier.

LeBlond, R. F., Brown, D. D., & DeGowin, R. L. (2020). DeGowin’s diagnostic examination (11th ed.). McGraw Hill.

Seidel, H. M., Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., & Benedict, G. W. (2023). Mosby’s guide to physical examination (9th ed.). Elsevier.

United States University. (2023). MSN 572: Advanced physical assessment across the lifespan — course syllabus (Version 2023-06-13). United States University School of Nursing.

Written by Dan Palmer, MSN | Gradevia.com | Expert academic support for working adult nursing students

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