A 70-year-old female patient comes to the office complaining of abdominal pain. She states she has had heartburn for several weeks, but it is usually relieved with chewable antacid tablets. The pain appears to be worse when she is hungry or at night. When asked about the color of her stools, the patient said sometimes they are “dark.” She denies any frank blood in her stools. She has had no vomiting, but some nausea. She also complains of fatigue. Her medications are lisinopril for high blood pressure and Cosopt eye drops for glaucoma. She has osteoarthritis, for which she takes overthe- counter naproxen. When asked how much naproxen she takes, the patient states she takes “two or three every few hours when the pain is bad.” She doesn’t know the dosage she is taking. She states she has had more pain than usual in the last few weeks. What diagnosis do you suspect in this patient?

The material on the PANCE and PANRE is organized by the NCCPA into two dimensions, as indicated in the content blueprint for the examination. - Organ systems and the diseases, disorders and medical assessments physician assistants encounter within those systems; and - The knowledge and skills physician assistants should exhibit when confronted with those diseases, disorders and assessments. Medical Content Categories % Allocation: Cardiovascular System 13% Dermatologic System 5% Endocrine System 7% Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat 7% Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition 9% Genitourinary... Show more

The material on the PANCE and PANRE is organized by the NCCPA into two dimensions, as indicated in the content blueprint for the examination.

- Organ systems and the diseases, disorders and medical assessments physician assistants encounter within those systems; and
- The knowledge and skills physician assistants should exhibit when confronted with those diseases, disorders and assessments.

Medical Content Categories % Allocation:

Cardiovascular System 13%
Dermatologic System 5%
Endocrine System 7%
Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat 7%
Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition 9%
Genitourinary System (Male and Female) 5%
Hematologic System 5%
Infectious Diseases 6%
Musculoskeletal System 8%
Neurologic System 7%
Psychiatry/Behavioral Science 6%
Pulmonary System 10%
Renal System 5%
Reproductive System (Male and Female) 7%

 

The task categories tested and the weight each is given on the exam are as follows:

Task Categories % Allocation:

History Taking and Performing Physical
Examination 17%
Using Diagnostic and Laboratory Studies 12%
Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis 18%
Managing Patients 0%
Health Maintenance, Patient Education, and Preventive Measures 10%
Pharmaceutical Therapeutics 14%
Clinical Intervention 14%
Applying Basic Scientific Concepts 10%
Professional Practice 5%

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