PCM Exam 1 Questions and Answers
Graded A+
What are the attributes of a patient that are assessed as part of the general
appearance exam? (11) - Correct answer-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
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,How to select the correct size blood pressure cuff? - Correct answer-● 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
Steps to ensure an accurate blood pressure measurement - Correct answer-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.
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,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? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
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
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, 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? - Correct answer-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 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 - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
Oral, Rectal, Tympanic, Temporal Artery. Rectal recommended in infants and
toddlers.
Average heart rate of children ages 1-2 - Correct answer-110 (70-150)
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Graded A+
What are the attributes of a patient that are assessed as part of the general
appearance exam? (11) - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,How to select the correct size blood pressure cuff? - Correct answer-● 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
Steps to ensure an accurate blood pressure measurement - Correct answer-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.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,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? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, 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? - Correct answer-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 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 - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
Oral, Rectal, Tympanic, Temporal Artery. Rectal recommended in infants and
toddlers.
Average heart rate of children ages 1-2 - Correct answer-110 (70-150)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
