PD – Exam 1, 2026 – Study guide and practice material
Cut over eye from shaving - correct answer ✔✔ A 54-year-old diplomat working at the United
Nations reports occasional chest pain and a sense of tightness in his chest when particularly
stressed over work deadlines. The patient is 6 feet 4 inches tall. He has a temperature of 98.6
degrees F and blood pressure of 140/78. He has a cut over one eye that he says is "from
shaving." Which of the following represents subjective information about this patient?
Immunizations - correct answer ✔✔ A physician assistant (PA) has had a long day and has seen
many patients. The last patient of the day is an 80-year-old woman brought to the office by her
35-year-old granddaughter. This is the patient's first visit to the office. As part of the patient's
past history, the PA obtains information about childhood illnesses and adult illnesses and then
moves on to inquire about the family history. Which important area of the past history has she
omitted?
Obtain a more complete description of problems - correct answer ✔✔ A 39-year-old nurse who
is a well-established patient complains of irregular menstrual periods and pelvic pain. She says
that she is having trouble sleeping and asks whether she could be given a "sleeping pill." The
patient also says she is thinking of leaving her job. What is the best "next step" in caring for this
patient?
Percussion - correct answer ✔✔ One important examination technique involves using the third
fingers of each hand to determine the health of internal organs. What is the name of this
technique?
Head and Neck - correct answer ✔✔ A 59-year-old unemployed man complains of almost
always feeling tired and hungry, despite getting sufficient rest and having a good appetite and
access to sufficient food. The patient is obese and, despite the warm weather outside, wearing
thermal socks with his sandals. He says this is because his feet are always cold and "feel funny."
With which body system should the clinician begin the examination?
, Nervous - correct answer ✔✔ A 65-year-old retired pilot visits the clinic because of recurrent
headache. The patient reports dizziness of recent onset (previous 2 weeks) and occasional
numbness on the left side. Which of the following systems or regions should be examined in the
clinician's focused assessment?
Accelerated heart rate - correct answer ✔✔ A 32-year-old office worker reports excessive stress
at work and pain in the right lower quadrant. She states that last night she vomited twice. Her
blood pressure is 120/75, heart rate 93 bpm. The patient looks pale and is sweating lightly.
Which of the following is an objective finding?
Determine the number of pack-years the patient smokes - correct answer ✔✔ A 29-year-old
electrician complains of persistent cough and wheezing, particularly when he exercises. He says
he smokes "occasionally" but rarely so much that he needs to purchase cigarettes: "mostly, I
bum them," he says, chuckling. Upon hearing this information, what is the best next step on the
part of the clinician?
Obtain a menstrual history for the previous 6 months. - correct answer ✔✔ A 47-year-old
fitness trainer visits the physician assistant (PA) because of skin dryness, night sweats, and
irregular menstrual periods. It is the PA's first contact with this patient. The patient notes that
"My sex life has really gone downhill lately" and says that she is considering divorcing her
husband of 20 years, stating that "He's not a bad guy. I just think that I can do better." In which
of the following ways should the clinician proceed?
Explain how the examination will proceed - correct answer ✔✔ A 23-year-old physician
assistant (PA) student found that she felt nervous when called upon to examine men in her age
group. On one occasion, she encountered a young male patient who appeared embarrassed to
see her walk into the room. What should the PA do to minimize their mutual discomfort?
Validity - correct answer ✔✔ a 21-year-old college student experiences tachycardia following a
night of heavy drinking. She is advised to undergo a stress electrocardiogram (ECG). As she
exercises, the recently calibrated pulse oximeter records a heart rate ranging from 25 bpm at
rest - 50 bpm while jogging. The test is stopped and re-started twice, and each time the pulse
Cut over eye from shaving - correct answer ✔✔ A 54-year-old diplomat working at the United
Nations reports occasional chest pain and a sense of tightness in his chest when particularly
stressed over work deadlines. The patient is 6 feet 4 inches tall. He has a temperature of 98.6
degrees F and blood pressure of 140/78. He has a cut over one eye that he says is "from
shaving." Which of the following represents subjective information about this patient?
Immunizations - correct answer ✔✔ A physician assistant (PA) has had a long day and has seen
many patients. The last patient of the day is an 80-year-old woman brought to the office by her
35-year-old granddaughter. This is the patient's first visit to the office. As part of the patient's
past history, the PA obtains information about childhood illnesses and adult illnesses and then
moves on to inquire about the family history. Which important area of the past history has she
omitted?
Obtain a more complete description of problems - correct answer ✔✔ A 39-year-old nurse who
is a well-established patient complains of irregular menstrual periods and pelvic pain. She says
that she is having trouble sleeping and asks whether she could be given a "sleeping pill." The
patient also says she is thinking of leaving her job. What is the best "next step" in caring for this
patient?
Percussion - correct answer ✔✔ One important examination technique involves using the third
fingers of each hand to determine the health of internal organs. What is the name of this
technique?
Head and Neck - correct answer ✔✔ A 59-year-old unemployed man complains of almost
always feeling tired and hungry, despite getting sufficient rest and having a good appetite and
access to sufficient food. The patient is obese and, despite the warm weather outside, wearing
thermal socks with his sandals. He says this is because his feet are always cold and "feel funny."
With which body system should the clinician begin the examination?
, Nervous - correct answer ✔✔ A 65-year-old retired pilot visits the clinic because of recurrent
headache. The patient reports dizziness of recent onset (previous 2 weeks) and occasional
numbness on the left side. Which of the following systems or regions should be examined in the
clinician's focused assessment?
Accelerated heart rate - correct answer ✔✔ A 32-year-old office worker reports excessive stress
at work and pain in the right lower quadrant. She states that last night she vomited twice. Her
blood pressure is 120/75, heart rate 93 bpm. The patient looks pale and is sweating lightly.
Which of the following is an objective finding?
Determine the number of pack-years the patient smokes - correct answer ✔✔ A 29-year-old
electrician complains of persistent cough and wheezing, particularly when he exercises. He says
he smokes "occasionally" but rarely so much that he needs to purchase cigarettes: "mostly, I
bum them," he says, chuckling. Upon hearing this information, what is the best next step on the
part of the clinician?
Obtain a menstrual history for the previous 6 months. - correct answer ✔✔ A 47-year-old
fitness trainer visits the physician assistant (PA) because of skin dryness, night sweats, and
irregular menstrual periods. It is the PA's first contact with this patient. The patient notes that
"My sex life has really gone downhill lately" and says that she is considering divorcing her
husband of 20 years, stating that "He's not a bad guy. I just think that I can do better." In which
of the following ways should the clinician proceed?
Explain how the examination will proceed - correct answer ✔✔ A 23-year-old physician
assistant (PA) student found that she felt nervous when called upon to examine men in her age
group. On one occasion, she encountered a young male patient who appeared embarrassed to
see her walk into the room. What should the PA do to minimize their mutual discomfort?
Validity - correct answer ✔✔ a 21-year-old college student experiences tachycardia following a
night of heavy drinking. She is advised to undergo a stress electrocardiogram (ECG). As she
exercises, the recently calibrated pulse oximeter records a heart rate ranging from 25 bpm at
rest - 50 bpm while jogging. The test is stopped and re-started twice, and each time the pulse
