Davita RN Practice Test Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update
Question:
Angina
Answer:
Definition: Chest pain or discomfort due to Coronary Heart Disease. Occurs when heart
muscle doesn't get as much blood as it needs. May also feel discomfort in neck, jaw,
shoulder, back or arm. Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in center of
chest. S/S: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea Interventions: Reduce BFR to 150,
reduce UFR, give O2, monitor cardiac rhythm/VS
Question:
Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome (DDS)
Answer:
Definition: A condition in which rapid or drastic changes in the patient's extracellular
fluid affect the brain S/S: Headache, hypertension, nausea, restlessness,
convulsions/seizures, confusion, blurred vision Intervention: decrease BFR and DFR,
shorter initial treatments,
Question:
Hypertension
Answer:
Definition: high blood pressure (Pre-Dialysis: >140/90; Post> 130/80) S/S: No
symptoms, headache, dizziness, Irritability, Blurred vision, nervousness, edema
secondary to fluid retention Intervention:Determine cause, maintain fluid balance take
medications as prescribed, notify MD
,Question:
hypotension
Answer:
Definition: low blood pressure (Systolic: <90, Diastolic: <60 or drop in systolic more
than 20 mm/hg S/S: flushing, yawning, dizziness, ear ringing, tachycardia, anxiousness,
nausea/vomiting, cold clammy skin, seizures, cardiac arrest Interventions: place pt in
supine position, decrease UFR to minimum, provide drinking water for less severe
hypotension, give 100-200 mL saline for severe hypotension, monitor BP, notify RN
Question:
Muscle Cramps
Answer:
Definition: painful muscle contractions in extremities or abdomen typically occurring
due to rapid/excessive fluid removal. S/S: painful cramps usually occuring later in
dialysis Intervention: massage or apply opposing force, give normal saline bolus,
reduce UFR, assess dry weight
Question:
Fever & Chills
Answer:
Definition: Any temp greater than 100° F or increase over baseline of 2° F with
symptoms S/S: Temp >100°F, involuntary shaking, chills, hypotension, nausea,
vomiting, headache, hypotension, tachycardia, hot flushed skin, dry mucous
membranes Interventions: nurse must assess pt for possible cause of fever, notify
treating nephrologist and obtain cultures per protocol, administer antibiotics as
ordered
Question:
Pyrogen Reaction
Answer:
Definitions: elevated temp-usually occurs 45-75 min into treatment as a result of
pyrogens (endotoxins) S/S: chills, shaking, fever, hypotension, vomiting, muscle pain
Intervention: Provide support, report pt s/s to RN, stop tx, do not return blood, notify
MD.
, Question:
Seizures
Answer:
Definition: involuntary muscle spasms and loss of consciousness S/S: change in level of
consciousness, twitching/jerking movements of the extremities Intervention: protect pt
and access arm from harm, protect airway, administer O2, d/c dialysis
Question:
Blood Loss
Answer:
Definition: loss of blood typically due to dislodged needle, bleeding at access site,
disconnection of lines, system clotted and unable to return blood. S/S: hypotension,
loss of consciousness, blood on floor, chair or clothing, blood lead detector alarm, VP
alarm if needle dislodged or line separate, TMP alarm, visible clots in chamber
Interventions: Manage symptoms, give saline replacement if needed, give O2, fix cause
Question:
Clotted Dialyzer
Answer:
Definition: Dialyzer membrane clotted S/S: decrease in VP with no change in BFR,
visible clots in the venous drip chamber or line, dark blood, unable to rinse back pt's
blood Intervention: ensure proper use of heparin, monitoring pressures, maintain
proper BFR. Change set up, determine cause
Question:
Hemolysis
Answer:
Definition: rupture of red blood cells S/S: cherry red blood,anxiety, restlessness,
abdominal cramping, back pain, chest tightness/dyspnea, seizures, thready pulse,
hyper/hypotension Intervention: Stop blood pump, clamp lines, do not return blood, RN
assess pt, administer O2, monitor VS and cadiac rhythm, check hemoglobin and K+
Answers Verified Solutions Latest
Update
Question:
Angina
Answer:
Definition: Chest pain or discomfort due to Coronary Heart Disease. Occurs when heart
muscle doesn't get as much blood as it needs. May also feel discomfort in neck, jaw,
shoulder, back or arm. Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing pain in center of
chest. S/S: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea Interventions: Reduce BFR to 150,
reduce UFR, give O2, monitor cardiac rhythm/VS
Question:
Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome (DDS)
Answer:
Definition: A condition in which rapid or drastic changes in the patient's extracellular
fluid affect the brain S/S: Headache, hypertension, nausea, restlessness,
convulsions/seizures, confusion, blurred vision Intervention: decrease BFR and DFR,
shorter initial treatments,
Question:
Hypertension
Answer:
Definition: high blood pressure (Pre-Dialysis: >140/90; Post> 130/80) S/S: No
symptoms, headache, dizziness, Irritability, Blurred vision, nervousness, edema
secondary to fluid retention Intervention:Determine cause, maintain fluid balance take
medications as prescribed, notify MD
,Question:
hypotension
Answer:
Definition: low blood pressure (Systolic: <90, Diastolic: <60 or drop in systolic more
than 20 mm/hg S/S: flushing, yawning, dizziness, ear ringing, tachycardia, anxiousness,
nausea/vomiting, cold clammy skin, seizures, cardiac arrest Interventions: place pt in
supine position, decrease UFR to minimum, provide drinking water for less severe
hypotension, give 100-200 mL saline for severe hypotension, monitor BP, notify RN
Question:
Muscle Cramps
Answer:
Definition: painful muscle contractions in extremities or abdomen typically occurring
due to rapid/excessive fluid removal. S/S: painful cramps usually occuring later in
dialysis Intervention: massage or apply opposing force, give normal saline bolus,
reduce UFR, assess dry weight
Question:
Fever & Chills
Answer:
Definition: Any temp greater than 100° F or increase over baseline of 2° F with
symptoms S/S: Temp >100°F, involuntary shaking, chills, hypotension, nausea,
vomiting, headache, hypotension, tachycardia, hot flushed skin, dry mucous
membranes Interventions: nurse must assess pt for possible cause of fever, notify
treating nephrologist and obtain cultures per protocol, administer antibiotics as
ordered
Question:
Pyrogen Reaction
Answer:
Definitions: elevated temp-usually occurs 45-75 min into treatment as a result of
pyrogens (endotoxins) S/S: chills, shaking, fever, hypotension, vomiting, muscle pain
Intervention: Provide support, report pt s/s to RN, stop tx, do not return blood, notify
MD.
, Question:
Seizures
Answer:
Definition: involuntary muscle spasms and loss of consciousness S/S: change in level of
consciousness, twitching/jerking movements of the extremities Intervention: protect pt
and access arm from harm, protect airway, administer O2, d/c dialysis
Question:
Blood Loss
Answer:
Definition: loss of blood typically due to dislodged needle, bleeding at access site,
disconnection of lines, system clotted and unable to return blood. S/S: hypotension,
loss of consciousness, blood on floor, chair or clothing, blood lead detector alarm, VP
alarm if needle dislodged or line separate, TMP alarm, visible clots in chamber
Interventions: Manage symptoms, give saline replacement if needed, give O2, fix cause
Question:
Clotted Dialyzer
Answer:
Definition: Dialyzer membrane clotted S/S: decrease in VP with no change in BFR,
visible clots in the venous drip chamber or line, dark blood, unable to rinse back pt's
blood Intervention: ensure proper use of heparin, monitoring pressures, maintain
proper BFR. Change set up, determine cause
Question:
Hemolysis
Answer:
Definition: rupture of red blood cells S/S: cherry red blood,anxiety, restlessness,
abdominal cramping, back pain, chest tightness/dyspnea, seizures, thready pulse,
hyper/hypotension Intervention: Stop blood pump, clamp lines, do not return blood, RN
assess pt, administer O2, monitor VS and cadiac rhythm, check hemoglobin and K+
