FRESENIUS EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
What is a pre-dialysis evaluation? - Correct Answers -1) Review of the patient's health.
2) Compares current health status to previous evaluations.
Why is pre-dialysis evaluations needed? - Correct Answers -1) To determine if the
patient is stable to receive treatment.
2) Determine if there has been a change in health status.
3) Provides a baseline date to plan for a safe treatment.
Describe Universal precautions - Correct Answers -Steps we take with all patient
contact to decrease the risk of spreading infection to protect our patient and ourselves.
What are the 3 C's? - Correct Answers -1) Condition (objective)
2) Complaints (subjective)
3) Changes (objective)
What should you look for with:
Ambulation - Correct Answers -Gait changes, use of assistive devices, ROM, energy
level.
What should you look for with:
Mental status and mood - Correct Answers -A&O x 3, any changes in usual mood
(Alert and orientation)
Person, place, time (situation) A&Ox4
What should you look for with:
Skin - Correct Answers -Color, integrity, temperature, edema
What should you look for with:
Vital signs - Correct Answers -Weight, BP, HR, respiration's, temperature
,What is EDW?
Estimated Dry weight - Correct Answers -A patient's wt with excess fluid removed
When is a RN required to assess a pre-treatment wt? - Correct Answers -If the patient
pre-treatment wt is >4 kg above EDW.
What does a blood pressure measure? - Correct Answers -Measurement of the
pressure of force of blood against the walls of the arteries.
When do you report a blood pressure to the RN? - Correct Answers -SBP <100 or > 180
DBP> 100
When do you report a heart rate to a RN? - Correct Answers -New onset of HR <60 or
>100
or a irregular beat
When do you report a respiratory rate to the Rn? - Correct Answers -A respiratory rate
of > 24 breaths per minute
True or False
Does a dialysis patient maintain an average temperature? - Correct Answers -False!
When do you report a temperature to the RN? - Correct Answers -Temperature < 96 &
> or = to 100 degrees
Name some important complaints you need to report to the RN?
(10) - Correct Answers -1) Dizziness
2) Chest pain
3) SOB (shortness of breath)
4) Any new complaints
5) A visit to the ER or a hospital stay
6) Weakness
7) Numbness or tinglinng
8) Fever or chills
9) Depression/sadness
10) Pain
What changes do you report to the RN? - Correct Answers -New medications or visit to
ER or hospital stay.
What are the ABC's of the patients assessment? - Correct Answers -A) Access
B) Breathing
C) Cardiac
,What to look for with:
Access - Correct Answers -Bruises, redness, drainage, swelling, bruit, thrill, pain,
bleeding
What to look for with:
Breathing - Correct Answers -Rate, rhythm, quality, SOB, breath sounds
What to look for with:
Cardiac - Correct Answers -Skin color and turgor, heart sounds, pulse rate, rhythm &
quality, edema, pain, SOB
Why do patients expreience crackles (rales) breath sounds? - Correct Answers -
Indicates fluid or congestion in lungs
Name some reasons for an abnormal heart rate? - Correct Answers -Can indicate
chemical imbalances or adverse effects from medications.
Names some places fluid can get trapped?
(Edema) - Correct Answers -Abdomen, lungs, feet, legs, hands,and face
What are the ranges for pitting edema? - Correct Answers -1-4 cm
What do you do when you have a red light as a complaint? - Correct Answers -Do not
start the treatment until the RN has done a full assessment on the patient.
Dialysis Prescription and Pre-treatment safety checks:
Name what verifies the correct patient's dialysis prescription?
(11) - Correct Answers -1) patient Identity
2) prescribed dialyzer
3) prescribed dialysate
4) special attention orders
5) SVS or UF profiling
6) prescribed heparin dose
7) OLC volume/test entered
8) prescribed dialysate rate
9) prescribed base sodium
10) prescribed bicarbonate
11) prescribed needle size
Name important information programmed into the machine.
(6) - Correct Answers -1) Prescribed treatment time
2) UF goal entered correctly
3) Prescribed BFR
, 4) Prescribed DFR
5) OLC volume
6) Na modeling or UF profile
Name the final dialysis machine safety checks.
(5) - Correct Answers -1) Dialysate temperature
2) Dialysate pH & conductivity
3) NS doubled clamped
4) Alarm & pressure holding test passed
5) Final check on blood circuit
What is a priority and major reason why we monitor our patients? - Correct Answers -
Patient safety
As fluid shifts during dialysis what changes can occur? - Correct Answers -Blood
pressure, fluid and electrolyte shifts.
Who is responsible for monitoring patients? - Correct Answers -Everyone!
The PCT must take what action when he or she identifies a potential problem? - Correct
Answers -Immeddiate
The RN must respond to what from patients and the PCT? - Correct Answers -
Complaints or PCT notifications to assess the patient
Why does a pateint's face and vascular access need to be visible at all times?
(3) - Correct Answers -1) It is a CMS requirement
2) Identify any changes in the patient's awareness
3) A covered access can result in major blood loss
What are "Red Flags" to report to the RN?
(5) - Correct Answers -1) Severe hypertesnion (SBP >200)
2) Severe hypotension (SBP <80)
3) New onset of pulse <60 or >100
4) Irregular heart rate
5) Temperature >or = to 100 degress
What should the RN do when notified about "red Flags" - Correct Answers -1) Assess
the patient
2) Provide intervention
3) Report to the physician based on clinical judgment
Name 4 non-verbal behaviors that may indicate a change in the patient status or
discomfort: - Correct Answers -1) Restlessness
2) Grimacing
3) Excessive yawning
ANSWERS
What is a pre-dialysis evaluation? - Correct Answers -1) Review of the patient's health.
2) Compares current health status to previous evaluations.
Why is pre-dialysis evaluations needed? - Correct Answers -1) To determine if the
patient is stable to receive treatment.
2) Determine if there has been a change in health status.
3) Provides a baseline date to plan for a safe treatment.
Describe Universal precautions - Correct Answers -Steps we take with all patient
contact to decrease the risk of spreading infection to protect our patient and ourselves.
What are the 3 C's? - Correct Answers -1) Condition (objective)
2) Complaints (subjective)
3) Changes (objective)
What should you look for with:
Ambulation - Correct Answers -Gait changes, use of assistive devices, ROM, energy
level.
What should you look for with:
Mental status and mood - Correct Answers -A&O x 3, any changes in usual mood
(Alert and orientation)
Person, place, time (situation) A&Ox4
What should you look for with:
Skin - Correct Answers -Color, integrity, temperature, edema
What should you look for with:
Vital signs - Correct Answers -Weight, BP, HR, respiration's, temperature
,What is EDW?
Estimated Dry weight - Correct Answers -A patient's wt with excess fluid removed
When is a RN required to assess a pre-treatment wt? - Correct Answers -If the patient
pre-treatment wt is >4 kg above EDW.
What does a blood pressure measure? - Correct Answers -Measurement of the
pressure of force of blood against the walls of the arteries.
When do you report a blood pressure to the RN? - Correct Answers -SBP <100 or > 180
DBP> 100
When do you report a heart rate to a RN? - Correct Answers -New onset of HR <60 or
>100
or a irregular beat
When do you report a respiratory rate to the Rn? - Correct Answers -A respiratory rate
of > 24 breaths per minute
True or False
Does a dialysis patient maintain an average temperature? - Correct Answers -False!
When do you report a temperature to the RN? - Correct Answers -Temperature < 96 &
> or = to 100 degrees
Name some important complaints you need to report to the RN?
(10) - Correct Answers -1) Dizziness
2) Chest pain
3) SOB (shortness of breath)
4) Any new complaints
5) A visit to the ER or a hospital stay
6) Weakness
7) Numbness or tinglinng
8) Fever or chills
9) Depression/sadness
10) Pain
What changes do you report to the RN? - Correct Answers -New medications or visit to
ER or hospital stay.
What are the ABC's of the patients assessment? - Correct Answers -A) Access
B) Breathing
C) Cardiac
,What to look for with:
Access - Correct Answers -Bruises, redness, drainage, swelling, bruit, thrill, pain,
bleeding
What to look for with:
Breathing - Correct Answers -Rate, rhythm, quality, SOB, breath sounds
What to look for with:
Cardiac - Correct Answers -Skin color and turgor, heart sounds, pulse rate, rhythm &
quality, edema, pain, SOB
Why do patients expreience crackles (rales) breath sounds? - Correct Answers -
Indicates fluid or congestion in lungs
Name some reasons for an abnormal heart rate? - Correct Answers -Can indicate
chemical imbalances or adverse effects from medications.
Names some places fluid can get trapped?
(Edema) - Correct Answers -Abdomen, lungs, feet, legs, hands,and face
What are the ranges for pitting edema? - Correct Answers -1-4 cm
What do you do when you have a red light as a complaint? - Correct Answers -Do not
start the treatment until the RN has done a full assessment on the patient.
Dialysis Prescription and Pre-treatment safety checks:
Name what verifies the correct patient's dialysis prescription?
(11) - Correct Answers -1) patient Identity
2) prescribed dialyzer
3) prescribed dialysate
4) special attention orders
5) SVS or UF profiling
6) prescribed heparin dose
7) OLC volume/test entered
8) prescribed dialysate rate
9) prescribed base sodium
10) prescribed bicarbonate
11) prescribed needle size
Name important information programmed into the machine.
(6) - Correct Answers -1) Prescribed treatment time
2) UF goal entered correctly
3) Prescribed BFR
, 4) Prescribed DFR
5) OLC volume
6) Na modeling or UF profile
Name the final dialysis machine safety checks.
(5) - Correct Answers -1) Dialysate temperature
2) Dialysate pH & conductivity
3) NS doubled clamped
4) Alarm & pressure holding test passed
5) Final check on blood circuit
What is a priority and major reason why we monitor our patients? - Correct Answers -
Patient safety
As fluid shifts during dialysis what changes can occur? - Correct Answers -Blood
pressure, fluid and electrolyte shifts.
Who is responsible for monitoring patients? - Correct Answers -Everyone!
The PCT must take what action when he or she identifies a potential problem? - Correct
Answers -Immeddiate
The RN must respond to what from patients and the PCT? - Correct Answers -
Complaints or PCT notifications to assess the patient
Why does a pateint's face and vascular access need to be visible at all times?
(3) - Correct Answers -1) It is a CMS requirement
2) Identify any changes in the patient's awareness
3) A covered access can result in major blood loss
What are "Red Flags" to report to the RN?
(5) - Correct Answers -1) Severe hypertesnion (SBP >200)
2) Severe hypotension (SBP <80)
3) New onset of pulse <60 or >100
4) Irregular heart rate
5) Temperature >or = to 100 degress
What should the RN do when notified about "red Flags" - Correct Answers -1) Assess
the patient
2) Provide intervention
3) Report to the physician based on clinical judgment
Name 4 non-verbal behaviors that may indicate a change in the patient status or
discomfort: - Correct Answers -1) Restlessness
2) Grimacing
3) Excessive yawning
