DAVITA PCT ADVANCED PRACTICE TEST
2026 STAR PROGRAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS
GUARANTEED COMPLETE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ What is convection? Answer: Solute dragged across SPM along with
fluid. Salute drag.
⩥ What is diffusion? Answer: Particles move from area of high
concentration to low concentration.
⩥ What is osmosis? Answer: Fluid moves from area of low
concentration to high.
⩥ What are the kidney's execratory functions? Answer: 1. normalize
electrolytes
2. remove waste.
3. Fluid and acid/base balance. pH balance.
⩥ How do we replace normal excretory kidney functions? Answer: 1. by
normalizing electrolytes through the use of acid concentrate
2. by providing fluid balance through UF.
,⩥ What is the function of the acid contrate? Answer: 1. Provides the
concentration gradient for diffusion
2. helps normalize electrolytes
⩥ What's the function of bicarbonate in the dialysate solution? Answer:
It buffers the acid concentrate
⩥ What is the function of bicarbonate when it diffuses into the patients
blood? Answer: It helps normalize the body's pH.
⩥ What are the signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia? Answer: > 5.5
mEq
symptoms: extreme muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythm, and
possible cardiac arrest.
⩥ What are the signs and symptoms of hypokalemia? Answer: <3.5 mEq
symptoms: fatigue, muscle weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure,
cardiac instability, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest
⩥ Normal blood pH range? Answer: 7.35-7.45
⩥ What are the kidney's endocrine functions? Answer: 1. Renin
secretion
2. Erythropoietin secretion
, 3. Vitamin D activation
⩥ When is renin secreted? Answer: Low BP, low blood volume, low
HCO3. (Metabolic acidosis)
Renin is released into your bloodstream when your blood pressure drops
too low or when there's not enough sodium in your body.
⩥ When is erythropoietin secreted? Answer: when the partial pressure of
oxygen in blood decreases
secreted by renal cortical interstitial cells in response to tissue hypoxia.
Erythropoietin is the main regulator of the production of red blood cells.
⩥ How do we replace normal endocrine kidney functions? Answer:
Provide medication to patients
⩥ How much of normal kidney function is replaced by hemodialysis?
Answer: About 15% of normal kidney function is replaced by
hemodialysis.
⩥ What is uremia and how does it affect the body? Answer: Uremia is a
buildup of wastes in the blood due to kidney failure and affects all body
systems.
2026 STAR PROGRAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS
GUARANTEED COMPLETE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⩥ What is convection? Answer: Solute dragged across SPM along with
fluid. Salute drag.
⩥ What is diffusion? Answer: Particles move from area of high
concentration to low concentration.
⩥ What is osmosis? Answer: Fluid moves from area of low
concentration to high.
⩥ What are the kidney's execratory functions? Answer: 1. normalize
electrolytes
2. remove waste.
3. Fluid and acid/base balance. pH balance.
⩥ How do we replace normal excretory kidney functions? Answer: 1. by
normalizing electrolytes through the use of acid concentrate
2. by providing fluid balance through UF.
,⩥ What is the function of the acid contrate? Answer: 1. Provides the
concentration gradient for diffusion
2. helps normalize electrolytes
⩥ What's the function of bicarbonate in the dialysate solution? Answer:
It buffers the acid concentrate
⩥ What is the function of bicarbonate when it diffuses into the patients
blood? Answer: It helps normalize the body's pH.
⩥ What are the signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia? Answer: > 5.5
mEq
symptoms: extreme muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythm, and
possible cardiac arrest.
⩥ What are the signs and symptoms of hypokalemia? Answer: <3.5 mEq
symptoms: fatigue, muscle weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure,
cardiac instability, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest
⩥ Normal blood pH range? Answer: 7.35-7.45
⩥ What are the kidney's endocrine functions? Answer: 1. Renin
secretion
2. Erythropoietin secretion
, 3. Vitamin D activation
⩥ When is renin secreted? Answer: Low BP, low blood volume, low
HCO3. (Metabolic acidosis)
Renin is released into your bloodstream when your blood pressure drops
too low or when there's not enough sodium in your body.
⩥ When is erythropoietin secreted? Answer: when the partial pressure of
oxygen in blood decreases
secreted by renal cortical interstitial cells in response to tissue hypoxia.
Erythropoietin is the main regulator of the production of red blood cells.
⩥ How do we replace normal endocrine kidney functions? Answer:
Provide medication to patients
⩥ How much of normal kidney function is replaced by hemodialysis?
Answer: About 15% of normal kidney function is replaced by
hemodialysis.
⩥ What is uremia and how does it affect the body? Answer: Uremia is a
buildup of wastes in the blood due to kidney failure and affects all body
systems.
