DaVita - PCT Study Guide questions and answers 2026\2027
A+ Grade
Chlorine/Chloramine testing:
- correct answer When: R/O runs 15 mins before patient shift every 4 hours
Where: After Primary carbon tank sample port
Acceptable result: Less than or equal to 0.1 mg/L
Action if results are too high post primary tank: Repeat the test
Define the term AKI
- correct answer - Term incorporates a wide spectrum of kidney issues
- Includes acute kidney failure as well as less catastrophic kidney function changes
- May dialyze in an out-patient facility until kidney function recovers
Give examples of pre-renal causes of AKI
- correct answer - Obstruction
- Volume Depletion
- Impaired Cardiac Function
Give examples of intra-renal causes of AKI
- correct answer - Ischemic ATN
- Sepsis
- SIRS
- Septic Shock
- Anaphylaxis Drugs
- Goodpasture Syndrome
,- Acute Glomerulonephritis
- Trauma
- Open Heart Surgery
Give examples of post-renal causes of AKI
- correct answer - Obstruction
- Oliguric
- Bladder Rupture
- Pregnancy
How do you help in restoring kidney function?
- correct answer Find the cause of the AKI
How do you protect kidneys from further injury?
- correct answer Avoid substances to the kidney which may be toxic (radiographic contrast,
amphotericin B, low dose aspirin, NSAIDS)
What is important when monitoring weight and BP?
- correct answer Keep a little extra fluid on them so it is available to the kidneys when they start
filtering/ultrafiltrating on their own
AKI patients are at increased risk for which complications?
- correct answer - Hypovolemia
- Hypotension
What do you need to consider in regards to their (AKI patients') vascular access?
- correct answer Patients will typically have a dialysis catheter, so be careful to avoid catheter related
infections
Explain the difference between AKI and CKD
- correct answer Eliminating the cause of the AKI can often lead to the return of kidney function. You
cannot eliminate the cause of CKD which is HTN, Diabetes, and genetic disorders (PKD)
,Outline the treatment goals for a patient with CKD
- correct answer - Slowing the progression of CKD
- Managing comorbidities and complications
- Controlling symptoms
- Minimizing the effects of CKD on patients' lifestyles
- Kidney replacement therapy modality education
- Encouraging patients to actively participate in their healthcare
What are the most common causes for CKD in the USA?
- correct answer - DM
- HTN
- PKD
Why it is important to know what caused your patient's CKD?
- correct answer So the nurse and PCT can inquire about possible problems during data collection and
assessment
In Kt/V, what is 'K'?
- correct answer Clearance of urea
What treatment factors decrease 'K'?
- correct answer - Inadequate coagulation
- Decreased BFR
- Poor priming
- Not following eP&P
- Patient not staying on TX as prescribed
What treatment factors increase 'K'?
- correct answer - Increased BFR
- Correct DFR
- Correct dialyzer
, - Correct target weight-amputation factor
In Kt/V, what is 't'?
- correct answer Time of dialysis session
What factors influence 't'?
- correct answer Running prescribed TX time
- Follow physician orders
- Encourage pt. to run entire TX [Getting off early will impact time (missing tx also impact tx time)]
In Kt/V, what is 'V'?
- correct answer - Volume of urea distribution
- Volume of patient's body water in which urea is distributed
What factors influence 'V'?
- correct answer - Amputation
- Height
- Sex
- Age
- Type of access (less efficient access reduces the volume process of a patient's blood)
Suggested BFR for 17 gauge needles
- correct answer 200-250
Suggested BFR for 16 gauge needles
- correct answer 250-350
Suggested BFR for 15 gauge needles
- correct answer 350-450
Suggested BFR for 14 gauge needles
- correct answer 450+
A+ Grade
Chlorine/Chloramine testing:
- correct answer When: R/O runs 15 mins before patient shift every 4 hours
Where: After Primary carbon tank sample port
Acceptable result: Less than or equal to 0.1 mg/L
Action if results are too high post primary tank: Repeat the test
Define the term AKI
- correct answer - Term incorporates a wide spectrum of kidney issues
- Includes acute kidney failure as well as less catastrophic kidney function changes
- May dialyze in an out-patient facility until kidney function recovers
Give examples of pre-renal causes of AKI
- correct answer - Obstruction
- Volume Depletion
- Impaired Cardiac Function
Give examples of intra-renal causes of AKI
- correct answer - Ischemic ATN
- Sepsis
- SIRS
- Septic Shock
- Anaphylaxis Drugs
- Goodpasture Syndrome
,- Acute Glomerulonephritis
- Trauma
- Open Heart Surgery
Give examples of post-renal causes of AKI
- correct answer - Obstruction
- Oliguric
- Bladder Rupture
- Pregnancy
How do you help in restoring kidney function?
- correct answer Find the cause of the AKI
How do you protect kidneys from further injury?
- correct answer Avoid substances to the kidney which may be toxic (radiographic contrast,
amphotericin B, low dose aspirin, NSAIDS)
What is important when monitoring weight and BP?
- correct answer Keep a little extra fluid on them so it is available to the kidneys when they start
filtering/ultrafiltrating on their own
AKI patients are at increased risk for which complications?
- correct answer - Hypovolemia
- Hypotension
What do you need to consider in regards to their (AKI patients') vascular access?
- correct answer Patients will typically have a dialysis catheter, so be careful to avoid catheter related
infections
Explain the difference between AKI and CKD
- correct answer Eliminating the cause of the AKI can often lead to the return of kidney function. You
cannot eliminate the cause of CKD which is HTN, Diabetes, and genetic disorders (PKD)
,Outline the treatment goals for a patient with CKD
- correct answer - Slowing the progression of CKD
- Managing comorbidities and complications
- Controlling symptoms
- Minimizing the effects of CKD on patients' lifestyles
- Kidney replacement therapy modality education
- Encouraging patients to actively participate in their healthcare
What are the most common causes for CKD in the USA?
- correct answer - DM
- HTN
- PKD
Why it is important to know what caused your patient's CKD?
- correct answer So the nurse and PCT can inquire about possible problems during data collection and
assessment
In Kt/V, what is 'K'?
- correct answer Clearance of urea
What treatment factors decrease 'K'?
- correct answer - Inadequate coagulation
- Decreased BFR
- Poor priming
- Not following eP&P
- Patient not staying on TX as prescribed
What treatment factors increase 'K'?
- correct answer - Increased BFR
- Correct DFR
- Correct dialyzer
, - Correct target weight-amputation factor
In Kt/V, what is 't'?
- correct answer Time of dialysis session
What factors influence 't'?
- correct answer Running prescribed TX time
- Follow physician orders
- Encourage pt. to run entire TX [Getting off early will impact time (missing tx also impact tx time)]
In Kt/V, what is 'V'?
- correct answer - Volume of urea distribution
- Volume of patient's body water in which urea is distributed
What factors influence 'V'?
- correct answer - Amputation
- Height
- Sex
- Age
- Type of access (less efficient access reduces the volume process of a patient's blood)
Suggested BFR for 17 gauge needles
- correct answer 200-250
Suggested BFR for 16 gauge needles
- correct answer 250-350
Suggested BFR for 15 gauge needles
- correct answer 350-450
Suggested BFR for 14 gauge needles
- correct answer 450+
