DAVITA PCT 2026 CORE EXAM MANUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with dry, itchy skin? - ✔✔-use hyper-fatted soaps
and lotions
-assess for safety at home
-provide emotional support
-control diabetes and phosphorus
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with peripheral neuropathy? - ✔✔-Monitor pt. for
changes in motor function, decreased strength in legs, C/O restless legs, and burning
feet.
-Advise not to walk barefoot
-Practice good foot care
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with GI problems? - ✔✔-inform RN and MD of any
bleeding problems, constipation, diarrhea
- inform RN and MD of ER visits
-Take meds as ordered (stool softeners, immodium, etc.)
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with psychological problems? - ✔✔Verbalize
struggles to IDT (core team), especially the social worker
✔✔A common cause of HTN in dialysis patients is: - ✔✔Fluid overload
✔✔What does HTN lead to? - ✔✔Left ventricular hypertrophy
✔✔Left ventricular hypertrophy leads to: - ✔✔Ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia,
myocardial infarction, and sudden death.
✔✔Define pericarditis - ✔✔An inflammation of the membrane (pericardial sac) that
surrounds the heart due to fluid an waste build up
✔✔What is the Tx for pericarditis? - ✔✔Decrease or stop heparin and give more
frequent dialysis
✔✔Why are dialysis patients anemic? - ✔✔The lifespan of their red blood cell is 60
days, 1/2 of the normal 120 days.
✔✔What is the primary cause of anemia in dialysis patients? - ✔✔Lack of the hormone
erythropoietin (EPO)
✔✔What are secondary causes of anemia in dialysis patients? - ✔✔-Inadequate iron
stores,
,-inadequate dialysis,
-malnutrition,
-blood loss during Tx
✔✔How can you prevent contributing to lower hemoglobin and blood loss in dialysis
patients? - ✔✔-Verify epogen dose is correct and administered
-Rinse back until venous line is pink tinged
-Avoid repeat lab draws
✔✔What are the four key elements contributing to CKD-Mineral Bone Disorder (MBD) -
✔✔-Calcium
-Phosphorus
-PTH
-Vitamin D (calcitriol)
***can all lead to CKD-MBD when abnormal***
✔✔What are the S/Sx of CKD-MBD in addition to bone disease? - ✔✔-Soft tissue
calcification
-Itching
-Muscle weakness
-Pathological fractures
-Tendon ruptures
-Compression of vertebrae
-Atherosclerosis
-Heart disease
✔✔What is your role in CKD-MBD management? - ✔✔-report symptoms, -urge patients
to take meds (home & treatment)
-report noncompliance problems related to nonadherence
✔✔Define AKI - ✔✔-Wide spectrum of kidney issues
-Includes acute renal failure & renal function changes
-May dialyze in an out-patient facility until kidney function recovers
✔✔Give 3 examples of prerenal causes of AKI - ✔✔Obstruction, volume depletion and
impaired cardiac function
✔✔Give 3 examples of intrarenal causes of AKI - ✔✔Ischemic ATN, sepsis, SIRS,
septic shock, anaphylaxis drugs, goodpasture syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis,
trauma, open heart surgery
✔✔Give 3 examples of postrenal causes of AKI - ✔✔Obstruction, oliguria, bladder
rupture and pregnancy
, ✔✔Explain the difference between AKI and CKD - ✔✔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, genetic disorders (PKD)
✔✔In the outpatient facility, how do you help in restoring kidney function? - ✔✔Find the
cause of the AKI
✔✔In the outpatient facility, what do you need to consider in regards to pt. vasc.
access? - ✔✔Patients will typically have a dialysis catheter- be careful to avoid catheter
related infections
✔✔How do you protect kidneys from further injury? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Keep a little extra fluid on
them so it is available to the kidneys when they start filtering/ultra-filtrating on their own
✔✔AKI patients are at increased risk for which complications? - ✔✔Hypovolemia and
hypotension
✔✔What makes dialysis patients more susceptible to HAIs? - ✔✔They are
immunosuppressed and more vulnerable to infection, which leads to the 2nd most
common cause of death in this population
✔✔Why are dialysis patients at increased risk for acquiring a HAI at the facility? -
✔✔The dialysis procedure itself requires prolonged access to the patient's blood,
especially those involving CVC vascular accesses, making them more at risk
✔✔What is the most common transmission route for HAIs - ✔✔Contact
✔✔What is the most important intervention you can do to to prevent HAIs - ✔✔Hand
hygiene
✔✔What is the most common infectious complication in hemodialysis patients? -
✔✔Vascular access infection
✔✔What is the most common cause of bacterial infections in dialysis patients? - ✔✔•
The use of catheters for hemodialysis treatments
✔✔What germ causes the most common infections in hemodialysis patients? -
✔✔Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - Must pay attention to infection
control! Proper hand hygiene, cleaning & disinfecting procedures to prevent spread of
infection (viable on surfaces for days)
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with dry, itchy skin? - ✔✔-use hyper-fatted soaps
and lotions
-assess for safety at home
-provide emotional support
-control diabetes and phosphorus
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with peripheral neuropathy? - ✔✔-Monitor pt. for
changes in motor function, decreased strength in legs, C/O restless legs, and burning
feet.
-Advise not to walk barefoot
-Practice good foot care
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with GI problems? - ✔✔-inform RN and MD of any
bleeding problems, constipation, diarrhea
- inform RN and MD of ER visits
-Take meds as ordered (stool softeners, immodium, etc.)
✔✔What would you advise for a pt. with psychological problems? - ✔✔Verbalize
struggles to IDT (core team), especially the social worker
✔✔A common cause of HTN in dialysis patients is: - ✔✔Fluid overload
✔✔What does HTN lead to? - ✔✔Left ventricular hypertrophy
✔✔Left ventricular hypertrophy leads to: - ✔✔Ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia,
myocardial infarction, and sudden death.
✔✔Define pericarditis - ✔✔An inflammation of the membrane (pericardial sac) that
surrounds the heart due to fluid an waste build up
✔✔What is the Tx for pericarditis? - ✔✔Decrease or stop heparin and give more
frequent dialysis
✔✔Why are dialysis patients anemic? - ✔✔The lifespan of their red blood cell is 60
days, 1/2 of the normal 120 days.
✔✔What is the primary cause of anemia in dialysis patients? - ✔✔Lack of the hormone
erythropoietin (EPO)
✔✔What are secondary causes of anemia in dialysis patients? - ✔✔-Inadequate iron
stores,
,-inadequate dialysis,
-malnutrition,
-blood loss during Tx
✔✔How can you prevent contributing to lower hemoglobin and blood loss in dialysis
patients? - ✔✔-Verify epogen dose is correct and administered
-Rinse back until venous line is pink tinged
-Avoid repeat lab draws
✔✔What are the four key elements contributing to CKD-Mineral Bone Disorder (MBD) -
✔✔-Calcium
-Phosphorus
-PTH
-Vitamin D (calcitriol)
***can all lead to CKD-MBD when abnormal***
✔✔What are the S/Sx of CKD-MBD in addition to bone disease? - ✔✔-Soft tissue
calcification
-Itching
-Muscle weakness
-Pathological fractures
-Tendon ruptures
-Compression of vertebrae
-Atherosclerosis
-Heart disease
✔✔What is your role in CKD-MBD management? - ✔✔-report symptoms, -urge patients
to take meds (home & treatment)
-report noncompliance problems related to nonadherence
✔✔Define AKI - ✔✔-Wide spectrum of kidney issues
-Includes acute renal failure & renal function changes
-May dialyze in an out-patient facility until kidney function recovers
✔✔Give 3 examples of prerenal causes of AKI - ✔✔Obstruction, volume depletion and
impaired cardiac function
✔✔Give 3 examples of intrarenal causes of AKI - ✔✔Ischemic ATN, sepsis, SIRS,
septic shock, anaphylaxis drugs, goodpasture syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis,
trauma, open heart surgery
✔✔Give 3 examples of postrenal causes of AKI - ✔✔Obstruction, oliguria, bladder
rupture and pregnancy
, ✔✔Explain the difference between AKI and CKD - ✔✔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, genetic disorders (PKD)
✔✔In the outpatient facility, how do you help in restoring kidney function? - ✔✔Find the
cause of the AKI
✔✔In the outpatient facility, what do you need to consider in regards to pt. vasc.
access? - ✔✔Patients will typically have a dialysis catheter- be careful to avoid catheter
related infections
✔✔How do you protect kidneys from further injury? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Keep a little extra fluid on
them so it is available to the kidneys when they start filtering/ultra-filtrating on their own
✔✔AKI patients are at increased risk for which complications? - ✔✔Hypovolemia and
hypotension
✔✔What makes dialysis patients more susceptible to HAIs? - ✔✔They are
immunosuppressed and more vulnerable to infection, which leads to the 2nd most
common cause of death in this population
✔✔Why are dialysis patients at increased risk for acquiring a HAI at the facility? -
✔✔The dialysis procedure itself requires prolonged access to the patient's blood,
especially those involving CVC vascular accesses, making them more at risk
✔✔What is the most common transmission route for HAIs - ✔✔Contact
✔✔What is the most important intervention you can do to to prevent HAIs - ✔✔Hand
hygiene
✔✔What is the most common infectious complication in hemodialysis patients? -
✔✔Vascular access infection
✔✔What is the most common cause of bacterial infections in dialysis patients? - ✔✔•
The use of catheters for hemodialysis treatments
✔✔What germ causes the most common infections in hemodialysis patients? -
✔✔Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - Must pay attention to infection
control! Proper hand hygiene, cleaning & disinfecting procedures to prevent spread of
infection (viable on surfaces for days)
