Welcome to episode 47 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast.

Join me as I cover 10 PANCE and PANRE board review questions from the Academy course content following the NCCPA content blueprint (download the FREE cheat sheet).

This week we will be covering 10 general board review questions based on the NCCPA PANCE and PANRE Content Blueprint. 

Below you will find an interactive exam to complement the podcast.

I hope you enjoy this free audio component to the examination portion of this site. The full genitourinary board review includes over 72 GU specific questions and is available to all members of the PANCE and PANRE Academy and SmartyPANCE

If you can’t see the audio player click here to listen to the full episode.

The following 10 questions are linked to NCCPA Content Blueprint lessons from the SmartyPANCE PANCE and PANRE board review website. If you are a member and login you will be able to view this content.

1. To relieve dependent edema in a pregnant patient, which of the following should be instituted as treatment?

Uncomplicated pregnancy is part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Reproductive System which is 8% of the exam

Answer: B. Elevate the legs.

Dependent edema is a common and rarely serious complication of pregnancy due to impedance of venous return. Leg elevation improves circulation

A. Limitation of fluid is not indicated and may be harmful.

2. To further assess ascites in a patient, the physician assistant instructs the patient to turn onto one side while performing percussion. Which of the following is the reason for this maneuver?

Ascites is a common complication of liver disease. Disorders of the liver is part of the NCCPA GI and Nutrition Content Blueprint and represents 10% of the exam

Answer:  A. Testing for shifting of dullness on percussion.

In ascites, dullness shifts to the more dependent side as the fluid relocates into dependent space, while tympany shifts to the top as the gas-filled organs float to the top of the ascitic fluid

C. Pain with movement is associated with peritonitis and not ascites.

3.  A 7-year-old child with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus for 3 years presents for routine follow-up. The mother states that the child has been having nightmares and night sweats. Additionally, his average morning glucose readings have risen from an average of 100 mg/dL to 145 mg/dL over the past week. This child is most likely experiencing

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Endocrinology which represents 6% of your exam

Answer: C. the Somogyi effect.

This refers to nocturnal hypoglycemia, which stimulates counterregulatory hormone release resulting in rebound hyperglycemia

A. Nightmares and night sweats are not associated with growth spurts.

4. A patient complains of loss of sensation at the level of the umbilicus. Which of the following dermatomes is affected?

Radicular pain is a common symptom of a herniated nucleus pulposus covered as part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Musculoskeletal System which is 10% of your exam

Answer: C. T10.

The dermatome T10 is at the level of the umbilicus.

5. A 25-year-old female graduate student presents to the student health center for the eighth time in three weeks to be sure she does not have meningitis. She read that there was a student on campus who had meningitis last month, and now she has headaches and is requesting to be tested to make sure she does not have meningitis. She has been evaluated at each visit, and physical examination has been completely normal each time. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Somatoform disorders are covered as part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Psychiatry which is 6% of your exam

Answer: B. Hypochondriasis.

Hypochondriasis is the chronic preoccupation with the idea of having a serious disease, which is usually not amenable to reassurance

A. Conversion disorder is characterized by onset of symptoms or deficits mimicking neurologic or medical illness, but the etiology is psychological.

6. What is the mechanism for the relapsing fevers associated with malaria?

Malaria is covered as part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Infectious Disease and is 3% of the exam

Answer: A. Release of malarial merozoites into the bloodstream.

Fever, chills, and sweats coincide with the release of merozoites from red blood cells that have been infected with Plasmodium species. Each merozoite may infect a new red blood cell, leading to a cycle of invasion growth, and release.

7. A 29-year-old patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is treated with prednisone therapy. Despite therapy, platelet counts remain consistently below 20,000/microliter over the course of 6 weeks. Which of the following is the most appropriate intervention for this patient?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is covered as part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Hematology and is 3% of your exam

Answer: D. Splenectomy

Persistently low platelet counts (< 20,000) require effective long-term treatment, and splenectomy is the treatment of choice.

A. Aspirin inhibits platelet function and could lead to significant bleeding and death of this patient.

8. A 27 year-old female presents to your office for evaluation of weakness, visual loss, and sensory loss over the right great toe. These symptoms have occurred during three episodes approximately three months apart with each episode lasting about three days. Which of the following tests would be most useful in further evaluating this patient?

This condition is covered as part of the NCCPA Content Blueprint Neurology which is 6% of your exam

SmartyPANCE ReelDx + members can view this real-world case!

Answer: A. MRI of the brain.

Multiple sclerosis typically presents with relapsing weakness of the limbs, sensory loss, paresthesias, and visual changes. Diagnosis is based on history and either abnormal brain or spinal cord MRI, or visual, auditory, or somatosensory evoked electrical response.

C. Glucose tolerance test is used in the evaluation of diabetes mellitus.

9. A patient taking bleomycin (Blenoxane) should be monitored for which of the following side effects?

This condition is is covered as part of the NCCPA Pulmonary Content Blueprint which represents 12% of your exam

Answer: D. Pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary infiltrates are known side effects of bleomycin

A. Optic neuritis is a potential side effect of ethambutol, used in the treatment of tuberculosis.

10. A patient presents for a follow-up visit for chronic hypertension. Which of the following findings may be noted on the fundoscopic examination of this patient?

This condition is a common complications of chronic hypertension covered as part of the NCCPA Cardiology Content Blueprint which is 16% of your exam

Answer: D. arteriovenous nicking

Arteriovenous nicking is common in chronic hypertension

A. Cherry-red fovea and boxcar segmentation of the retinal veins are findings seen in central retinal artery occlusion.

This FREE series is limited to every other episode, you can download and enjoy the complete audio series by joining The PANCE and PANRE Exam Academy + SmaryPANCE

I will be releasing new episodes every few weeks. The Academy is discounted, so sign up now.

Follow this link to download your FREE copy of the Content Blueprint Checklist

Print it up and start crossing out the topics you understand, marking the ones you don’t and making notes of key terms you should remember. The PDF version is interactive and linked directly to the individual lessons on SMARTY PANCE.

FREE Download

The post Episode 47: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Podcast – Mixed Content Blueprint Board Review appeared first on The Audio PANCE and PANRE.