FRESENIUS PCT NEW HIRE EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What are the anatomical structures of the urinary system in order of urine flow? -
Correct Answers -(2) Kidneys, (2) ureters, (1) bladder, (1) urethra.
Which of the functions of healthy kidneys are replaced by dialysis? - Correct Answers -
Removal of waste products, and Regulation of fluid balance
What is the function of renin? - Correct Answers -Renin is a hormone produced by the
kidneys with important effects on the regulation of blood pressure, and on sodium and
potassium balance
Erythropoietin - Correct Answers -stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood
cells (RBSc).
Why must the kidney activate Vitamin D? - Correct Answers -The kidney converts
Vitamin D to Calcitriol, its activated form. This activated form of Vitamin D helps to
maintain good bone health by helping absorb calcium from foods eaten
What causes renal osteodystrophy (bone disease)? - Correct Answers -No longer
produce calcitriol - the active form of Vitamin D o Inadequate or lacking calcitriol causes
demineralization of the bone - bone begins to break down to release the calcium
needed for body functioning No longer excrete excess phosphorus (PO4) o Phosphorus
is found in most foods and beverages o Increased PO4 levels cause further calcium
bone loss
What are the body fluid compartments? - Correct Answers -Intracellular-inside the cells
• Extracellular-outside the cells • Intravascular-inside the blood vessels • Interstitial-
between the cells
What is homeostasis? - Correct Answers -Maintaining a stable internal environment
uremia - Correct Answers -build up of waste
What is a semi-permeable membrane? - Correct Answers -A membrane made from
protein, with small pores or holes. Only certain molecules can fit through.
, At what point during the hemodialysis treatment will diffusion cease to occur? - Correct
Answers -Diffusion will continue throughout the dialysis treatment until the concentration
of each electrolyte found in the patient's blood is equal to the electrolyte concentration in
the dialysate.
What is countercurrent flow? - Correct Answers -Blood and dialysate flow in opposite
directions
What happens to diffusion when dialyzer fibers clot? - Correct Answers -Clotted fibers
cause the permeability of the fiber to be reduced or eliminated, causing a decrease in
treatment adequacy. As a result , diffusion does not occur as particles cannot diffuse
across the membrane.
What are the compartments of the dialyzer and what separates them? - Correct
Answers -The blood compartment is separated from the dialysate compartment by a
semi-permeable membrane. The blood and dialysate do not mix together.
What are three types of solutions? - Correct Answers -• Hypotonic-containing less
particles • Isotonic-containing equal particles • Hypertonic-containing more particles
When is it known that a patient has developed sensitivity to a dialyzer? - Correct
Answers -Patients develop mild to severe reactions in some cases, usually seen the
first half hour of treatment. Sneezing, itching, pain at the access site, chest pain,
rashing, hives, fever, all may be symptoms of dialyzer membrane allergy, or allergy to
the sterilant used in the manufacturing process
What volume should be used for fresh fill/run off? - Correct Answers -50 ml of saline
should be drained from the arterial line and 250 ml should be drained from the venous
line
When dialyzing a patient, what position should the dialyzer be in during hemodialysis? -
Correct Answers -Place the dialyzer arterial end up during the treatment.
What should be checked on a dialyzer before machine set up? - Correct Answers -The
dialyzer should be checked for sterility (the dialyzer should either be intact in the original
packaging or if out of the package should have all open ports capped), any structural
damage and be the size and brand that was ordered by the doctor.
What are electrolytes? - Correct Answers -Electrolytes are charged particles that can
conduct an electrical current. Electrolytes in the body control motor, muscle and nerve
function, and maintain the body's homeostasis.
The most important electrolytes to consider in uremic patients are: - Correct Answers -
Sodium (Na+) Potassium (K+) Calcium (Ca++) Magnesium (Mg++)
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What are the anatomical structures of the urinary system in order of urine flow? -
Correct Answers -(2) Kidneys, (2) ureters, (1) bladder, (1) urethra.
Which of the functions of healthy kidneys are replaced by dialysis? - Correct Answers -
Removal of waste products, and Regulation of fluid balance
What is the function of renin? - Correct Answers -Renin is a hormone produced by the
kidneys with important effects on the regulation of blood pressure, and on sodium and
potassium balance
Erythropoietin - Correct Answers -stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood
cells (RBSc).
Why must the kidney activate Vitamin D? - Correct Answers -The kidney converts
Vitamin D to Calcitriol, its activated form. This activated form of Vitamin D helps to
maintain good bone health by helping absorb calcium from foods eaten
What causes renal osteodystrophy (bone disease)? - Correct Answers -No longer
produce calcitriol - the active form of Vitamin D o Inadequate or lacking calcitriol causes
demineralization of the bone - bone begins to break down to release the calcium
needed for body functioning No longer excrete excess phosphorus (PO4) o Phosphorus
is found in most foods and beverages o Increased PO4 levels cause further calcium
bone loss
What are the body fluid compartments? - Correct Answers -Intracellular-inside the cells
• Extracellular-outside the cells • Intravascular-inside the blood vessels • Interstitial-
between the cells
What is homeostasis? - Correct Answers -Maintaining a stable internal environment
uremia - Correct Answers -build up of waste
What is a semi-permeable membrane? - Correct Answers -A membrane made from
protein, with small pores or holes. Only certain molecules can fit through.
, At what point during the hemodialysis treatment will diffusion cease to occur? - Correct
Answers -Diffusion will continue throughout the dialysis treatment until the concentration
of each electrolyte found in the patient's blood is equal to the electrolyte concentration in
the dialysate.
What is countercurrent flow? - Correct Answers -Blood and dialysate flow in opposite
directions
What happens to diffusion when dialyzer fibers clot? - Correct Answers -Clotted fibers
cause the permeability of the fiber to be reduced or eliminated, causing a decrease in
treatment adequacy. As a result , diffusion does not occur as particles cannot diffuse
across the membrane.
What are the compartments of the dialyzer and what separates them? - Correct
Answers -The blood compartment is separated from the dialysate compartment by a
semi-permeable membrane. The blood and dialysate do not mix together.
What are three types of solutions? - Correct Answers -• Hypotonic-containing less
particles • Isotonic-containing equal particles • Hypertonic-containing more particles
When is it known that a patient has developed sensitivity to a dialyzer? - Correct
Answers -Patients develop mild to severe reactions in some cases, usually seen the
first half hour of treatment. Sneezing, itching, pain at the access site, chest pain,
rashing, hives, fever, all may be symptoms of dialyzer membrane allergy, or allergy to
the sterilant used in the manufacturing process
What volume should be used for fresh fill/run off? - Correct Answers -50 ml of saline
should be drained from the arterial line and 250 ml should be drained from the venous
line
When dialyzing a patient, what position should the dialyzer be in during hemodialysis? -
Correct Answers -Place the dialyzer arterial end up during the treatment.
What should be checked on a dialyzer before machine set up? - Correct Answers -The
dialyzer should be checked for sterility (the dialyzer should either be intact in the original
packaging or if out of the package should have all open ports capped), any structural
damage and be the size and brand that was ordered by the doctor.
What are electrolytes? - Correct Answers -Electrolytes are charged particles that can
conduct an electrical current. Electrolytes in the body control motor, muscle and nerve
function, and maintain the body's homeostasis.
The most important electrolytes to consider in uremic patients are: - Correct Answers -
Sodium (Na+) Potassium (K+) Calcium (Ca++) Magnesium (Mg++)
