PCM EXAM 1 QUESTIONS WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST VERSION
2025/2026.
What are the attributes of a patient that are assessed as part of the general appearance exam?
(11) - ANS 1. Apparent State of Health
2. Level of Consciousness
3. Signs of Distress
4. Skin Color and Obvious Lesions
5. Dress, Grooming, and Personal Hygiene
6. Facial Expression
7. Odors of the Body and Breath
8. Posture, Gait, and Motor Activity
9. Height and Weight
10. Calculating the BMI
11. Waist Circumference
How to select the correct size blood pressure cuff? - ANS ● Width of the inflatable bladder of
the cuff should be about 40% of upper arm circumference (about 12 to 14 cm in the average
adult).
● Length of the inflatable bladder should be about 80% of upper arm circumference (almost
long enough to encircle the arm).
● The standard cuff is 12 × 23 cm, appropriate for arm circumferences up to 28 cm. If the cuff is
too small (narrow), the blood pressure will read high; if the cuff is too large (wide), the blood
pressure will read low on a small arm and high on a large arm
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Steps to ensure an accurate blood pressure measurement - ANS 1. The patient should avoid
smoking, caffeine, or exercise for 30 minutes prior to measurement.
2. The examining room should be quiet and comfortably warm.
3. The patient should sit quietly for 5 minutes in a chair with feet on the floor, rather than on
the examining table.
4. The arm selected should be free of clothing, fistulas for dialysis, scars from brachial artery
cutdowns, or lymphedema from axillary node dissection or radiation therapy.
5. Palpate the brachial artery to confirm a viable pulse and position the arm so that the brachial
artery, at the antecubital crease, is at heart level—roughly level with the fourth interspace at its
junction with the sternum.
6. If the patient is seated, rest the arm on a table a little above the patient's waist; if standing,
try to support the patient's arm at the midchest level.
What is the proper technique for obtaining blood pressure? - ANS 1. Select the correct size
blood pressure cuff
2. Ensure that the conditions are good
3. Position the cuff and the arm (arm at heart level)
4. Estimate the systolic pressure and add 30 mmHG
5. Position the stethoscope bell over the brachial artery
6. Identify the systolic blood pressure
7. Identify the diastolic blood pressure
8. Average two or more readings
What is the proper technique for obtaining respiratory rate? - ANS Observe the rate, rhythm,
depth, and effort of breathing. Count the number of respirations in 1 minute either by visual
inspection or by subtly listening over the patient's trachea with your stethoscope during your
examination of the head and neck or chest.`
What is the proper technique for obtaining a heart rate? - ANS The radial pulse is commonly
used to assess the heart rate (Fig. 4-8). With the pads of your index and middle fingers,
compress the radial artery until a maximal pulsation is detected. If the rhythm is regular and the
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,rate seems normal, count the rate for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. If the rate is unusually fast
or slow, count for 60 seconds.
How to measure heart rhythm - ANS Begin by palpating the radial pulse. If there are any
irregularities, assess the rhythm at the apex by listening with your stethoscope. Premature
beats of low amplitude may not be transmitted to the peripheral pulses, leading to
underestimates of the heart rate. Is the rhythm regular or irregular? If irregular, try to identify a
pattern: (1) Do early beats appear in a basically regular rhythm? (2) Does the irregularity vary
consistently with respiration? (3) Is the rhythm totally irregular?
What are the various methods you can use to obtain temperature? - ANS Oral, Rectal,
Tympanic, Temporal Artery. Rectal recommended in infants and toddlers.
Average heart rate of children ages 1-2 - ANS 110 (70-150)
Average heart rate of children ages 2-6 - ANS 103 (68-138)
Average heart rate of children ages 6-10 - ANS 95 (65-125)
How does heart rate change as a person ages? - ANS Decreases with age
Unchanged resting heart rate in elderly but they will have slower increase in HR from
stress/exercise.
How does blood pressure change as a person gets older? - ANS Lower in pediatrics, increases
with as they age. Pediatrics BPs based on percentile of height. Normal ranges from 80/35 as a
1yo to 105/65 as a 10yo. Threshold for hypertension in elderly (65+) is higher
normal blood pressure - ANS 120/80 mmHg
Prehypertension - ANS 120-139/80-89
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Stage 1 hypertension for patients Ages 18-60, diabetes or renal disease - ANS 140-159/90-99
Stage 1 hypertension for patient age 60+ - ANS 150-159/90-00
stage 2 hypertension - ANS 160+/100+
Normal respiratory rate in early childhood - ANS 20-40/ minute
Normal respiratory rate in late childhood - ANS 15-25/min
Normal respiratory rate in adults - ANS 20 breaths per minute
Normal temperature - ANS 98.6 F or 37 C
Should be unchanged in pediatrics but infants have worse temperature control and will
commonly show temperatures around 99F. Temps unchanged in elderly.
What are the potential confounders of accurate blood pressure measurement that would cause
a falsely elevated blood pressure? - ANS Cuff too small
Arm far below the level of the heart
Feet not flat on the floor
Taking BP over clothing
Patient Issues: smoked, drank alcohol just before measurement; talking during measurement
White coat hypertension
What are the potential confounders of accurate blood pressure measurement that would cause
a falsely lowered blood pressure? - ANS Cuff too large
Arm far above the level of the heart
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST VERSION
2025/2026.
What are the attributes of a patient that are assessed as part of the general appearance exam?
(11) - ANS 1. Apparent State of Health
2. Level of Consciousness
3. Signs of Distress
4. Skin Color and Obvious Lesions
5. Dress, Grooming, and Personal Hygiene
6. Facial Expression
7. Odors of the Body and Breath
8. Posture, Gait, and Motor Activity
9. Height and Weight
10. Calculating the BMI
11. Waist Circumference
How to select the correct size blood pressure cuff? - ANS ● Width of the inflatable bladder of
the cuff should be about 40% of upper arm circumference (about 12 to 14 cm in the average
adult).
● Length of the inflatable bladder should be about 80% of upper arm circumference (almost
long enough to encircle the arm).
● The standard cuff is 12 × 23 cm, appropriate for arm circumferences up to 28 cm. If the cuff is
too small (narrow), the blood pressure will read high; if the cuff is too large (wide), the blood
pressure will read low on a small arm and high on a large arm
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Steps to ensure an accurate blood pressure measurement - ANS 1. The patient should avoid
smoking, caffeine, or exercise for 30 minutes prior to measurement.
2. The examining room should be quiet and comfortably warm.
3. The patient should sit quietly for 5 minutes in a chair with feet on the floor, rather than on
the examining table.
4. The arm selected should be free of clothing, fistulas for dialysis, scars from brachial artery
cutdowns, or lymphedema from axillary node dissection or radiation therapy.
5. Palpate the brachial artery to confirm a viable pulse and position the arm so that the brachial
artery, at the antecubital crease, is at heart level—roughly level with the fourth interspace at its
junction with the sternum.
6. If the patient is seated, rest the arm on a table a little above the patient's waist; if standing,
try to support the patient's arm at the midchest level.
What is the proper technique for obtaining blood pressure? - ANS 1. Select the correct size
blood pressure cuff
2. Ensure that the conditions are good
3. Position the cuff and the arm (arm at heart level)
4. Estimate the systolic pressure and add 30 mmHG
5. Position the stethoscope bell over the brachial artery
6. Identify the systolic blood pressure
7. Identify the diastolic blood pressure
8. Average two or more readings
What is the proper technique for obtaining respiratory rate? - ANS Observe the rate, rhythm,
depth, and effort of breathing. Count the number of respirations in 1 minute either by visual
inspection or by subtly listening over the patient's trachea with your stethoscope during your
examination of the head and neck or chest.`
What is the proper technique for obtaining a heart rate? - ANS The radial pulse is commonly
used to assess the heart rate (Fig. 4-8). With the pads of your index and middle fingers,
compress the radial artery until a maximal pulsation is detected. If the rhythm is regular and the
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,rate seems normal, count the rate for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. If the rate is unusually fast
or slow, count for 60 seconds.
How to measure heart rhythm - ANS Begin by palpating the radial pulse. If there are any
irregularities, assess the rhythm at the apex by listening with your stethoscope. Premature
beats of low amplitude may not be transmitted to the peripheral pulses, leading to
underestimates of the heart rate. Is the rhythm regular or irregular? If irregular, try to identify a
pattern: (1) Do early beats appear in a basically regular rhythm? (2) Does the irregularity vary
consistently with respiration? (3) Is the rhythm totally irregular?
What are the various methods you can use to obtain temperature? - ANS Oral, Rectal,
Tympanic, Temporal Artery. Rectal recommended in infants and toddlers.
Average heart rate of children ages 1-2 - ANS 110 (70-150)
Average heart rate of children ages 2-6 - ANS 103 (68-138)
Average heart rate of children ages 6-10 - ANS 95 (65-125)
How does heart rate change as a person ages? - ANS Decreases with age
Unchanged resting heart rate in elderly but they will have slower increase in HR from
stress/exercise.
How does blood pressure change as a person gets older? - ANS Lower in pediatrics, increases
with as they age. Pediatrics BPs based on percentile of height. Normal ranges from 80/35 as a
1yo to 105/65 as a 10yo. Threshold for hypertension in elderly (65+) is higher
normal blood pressure - ANS 120/80 mmHg
Prehypertension - ANS 120-139/80-89
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Stage 1 hypertension for patients Ages 18-60, diabetes or renal disease - ANS 140-159/90-99
Stage 1 hypertension for patient age 60+ - ANS 150-159/90-00
stage 2 hypertension - ANS 160+/100+
Normal respiratory rate in early childhood - ANS 20-40/ minute
Normal respiratory rate in late childhood - ANS 15-25/min
Normal respiratory rate in adults - ANS 20 breaths per minute
Normal temperature - ANS 98.6 F or 37 C
Should be unchanged in pediatrics but infants have worse temperature control and will
commonly show temperatures around 99F. Temps unchanged in elderly.
What are the potential confounders of accurate blood pressure measurement that would cause
a falsely elevated blood pressure? - ANS Cuff too small
Arm far below the level of the heart
Feet not flat on the floor
Taking BP over clothing
Patient Issues: smoked, drank alcohol just before measurement; talking during measurement
White coat hypertension
What are the potential confounders of accurate blood pressure measurement that would cause
a falsely lowered blood pressure? - ANS Cuff too large
Arm far above the level of the heart
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
