A 78-year-old woman is brought to the clinic by her daughter with shortness of breath, fatigue, edema of the lower extremities, irregular heartbeat, and productive cough. The patient appears sleepy and has difficulty staying awake. The daughter states her mother’s symptoms started about two weeks ago and have worsened over time. She also says that her mother has not been to a clinician in two years because “she hates hospitals.” The patient is on no medications and states that she has no known history of heart disease. However, she sometimes has chest pain that radiates down her left arm, which lasts for several minutes. Her blood pressure is 160/90, and her pulse is 100 and irregular. Her respirations are 28 and labored. She is producing white sputum when coughing. Rales are heard bilaterally in both lung bases. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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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