DAVITA PCT FINAL EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026 | LATEST
VERSIONS | ALL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(ALREADY GRADED A+)
Question 1. What is the primary purpose of hemodialysis?
A. Cure kidney disease permanently
B. Remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood
C. Increase red blood cell production directly
D. Eliminate the need for all medications
Correct Answer: B. Remove waste products and excess fluid from the
blood
Rationale: Hemodialysis replaces some important functions of the kidneys by
removing metabolic waste products, excess fluid, and certain electrolytes
from the blood. It does not permanently cure kidney failure.
Question 2. Which vascular access is created by directly connecting an artery
to a vein?
A. AV fistula
B. AV graft
C. Tunneled catheter
D. Temporary catheter
Correct Answer: A. AV fistula
Rationale: An AV fistula is created surgically by connecting an artery directly
to a vein. Increased blood flow causes the vein to become stronger and larger,
allowing repeated cannulation for dialysis.
Question 3. Which two findings are routinely assessed over a functioning AV
fistula?
,A. Temperature and pulse
B. Thrill and bruit
C. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
D. Weight and height
Correct Answer: B. Thrill and bruit
Rationale: A thrill is a palpable vibration produced by blood flow, while a
bruit is an audible sound heard with a stethoscope. Changes or absence of
these findings may indicate access dysfunction.
Question 4. Which action should be avoided on an arm containing an AV
fistula?
A. Inspecting the access
B. Checking for a thrill
C. Taking blood pressure
D. Observing the skin
Correct Answer: C. Taking blood pressure
Rationale: Blood-pressure cuffs can place significant pressure on the vascular
access and potentially compromise blood flow. The access arm should also
generally be protected from unnecessary venipuncture and compression.
Question 5. What is diffusion?
A. Movement of fluid caused by pressure
B. Movement of solutes from higher to lower concentration
C. Removal of red blood cells
D. Movement of blood through an artery
Correct Answer: B. Movement of solutes from higher to lower
concentration
,Rationale: During dialysis, diffusion allows waste products such as urea to
move across the semipermeable dialyzer membrane from an area of higher
concentration in the blood toward a lower concentration in the dialysate.
Question 6. What is ultrafiltration primarily responsible for?
A. Removing excess fluid
B. Producing insulin
C. Increasing hemoglobin
D. Removing all proteins from the blood
Correct Answer: A. Removing excess fluid
Rationale: Ultrafiltration uses a pressure gradient across the dialyzer
membrane to remove excess water from the patient's blood. The prescribed
ultrafiltration goal is based on the patient's fluid status and treatment
prescription.
Question 7. A patient develops dizziness, nausea, and a significant blood-
pressure decrease during dialysis. What should the PCT do?
A. Increase ultrafiltration
B. Notify the nurse immediately
C. Ask the patient to stand
D. Ignore the symptoms
Correct Answer: B. Notify the nurse immediately
Rationale: These findings are consistent with possible intradialytic
hypotension. The patient should be kept safe from falls, the nurse should be
notified promptly, and the established treatment protocol should be followed.
Question 8. Which finding is most concerning for vascular access infection?
, A. Normal thrill
B. Normal bruit
C. Redness, warmth, and purulent drainage
D. Intact skin
Correct Answer: C. Redness, warmth, and purulent drainage
Rationale: Redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, or drainage may indicate
infection. Infection involving vascular access can become serious and requires
prompt clinical evaluation.
Question 9. Why is the patient's pre-dialysis weight obtained?
A. To determine height
B. To help assess fluid gain and determine fluid removal
C. To determine blood type
D. To determine needle size
Correct Answer: B. To help assess fluid gain and determine fluid removal
Rationale: Comparing the current pre-treatment weight with the patient's
target or prescribed dry weight helps the dialysis team determine the
appropriate amount of fluid removal.
Question 10. Which finding may indicate excessive fluid removal?
A. Hypotension and muscle cramps
B. Increased appetite
C. Improved vision
D. Increased body temperature
Correct Answer: A. Hypotension and muscle cramps
Rationale: Rapid or excessive fluid removal can reduce circulating blood
volume and cause hypotension, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, and
weakness.
VERSIONS | ALL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(ALREADY GRADED A+)
Question 1. What is the primary purpose of hemodialysis?
A. Cure kidney disease permanently
B. Remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood
C. Increase red blood cell production directly
D. Eliminate the need for all medications
Correct Answer: B. Remove waste products and excess fluid from the
blood
Rationale: Hemodialysis replaces some important functions of the kidneys by
removing metabolic waste products, excess fluid, and certain electrolytes
from the blood. It does not permanently cure kidney failure.
Question 2. Which vascular access is created by directly connecting an artery
to a vein?
A. AV fistula
B. AV graft
C. Tunneled catheter
D. Temporary catheter
Correct Answer: A. AV fistula
Rationale: An AV fistula is created surgically by connecting an artery directly
to a vein. Increased blood flow causes the vein to become stronger and larger,
allowing repeated cannulation for dialysis.
Question 3. Which two findings are routinely assessed over a functioning AV
fistula?
,A. Temperature and pulse
B. Thrill and bruit
C. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation
D. Weight and height
Correct Answer: B. Thrill and bruit
Rationale: A thrill is a palpable vibration produced by blood flow, while a
bruit is an audible sound heard with a stethoscope. Changes or absence of
these findings may indicate access dysfunction.
Question 4. Which action should be avoided on an arm containing an AV
fistula?
A. Inspecting the access
B. Checking for a thrill
C. Taking blood pressure
D. Observing the skin
Correct Answer: C. Taking blood pressure
Rationale: Blood-pressure cuffs can place significant pressure on the vascular
access and potentially compromise blood flow. The access arm should also
generally be protected from unnecessary venipuncture and compression.
Question 5. What is diffusion?
A. Movement of fluid caused by pressure
B. Movement of solutes from higher to lower concentration
C. Removal of red blood cells
D. Movement of blood through an artery
Correct Answer: B. Movement of solutes from higher to lower
concentration
,Rationale: During dialysis, diffusion allows waste products such as urea to
move across the semipermeable dialyzer membrane from an area of higher
concentration in the blood toward a lower concentration in the dialysate.
Question 6. What is ultrafiltration primarily responsible for?
A. Removing excess fluid
B. Producing insulin
C. Increasing hemoglobin
D. Removing all proteins from the blood
Correct Answer: A. Removing excess fluid
Rationale: Ultrafiltration uses a pressure gradient across the dialyzer
membrane to remove excess water from the patient's blood. The prescribed
ultrafiltration goal is based on the patient's fluid status and treatment
prescription.
Question 7. A patient develops dizziness, nausea, and a significant blood-
pressure decrease during dialysis. What should the PCT do?
A. Increase ultrafiltration
B. Notify the nurse immediately
C. Ask the patient to stand
D. Ignore the symptoms
Correct Answer: B. Notify the nurse immediately
Rationale: These findings are consistent with possible intradialytic
hypotension. The patient should be kept safe from falls, the nurse should be
notified promptly, and the established treatment protocol should be followed.
Question 8. Which finding is most concerning for vascular access infection?
, A. Normal thrill
B. Normal bruit
C. Redness, warmth, and purulent drainage
D. Intact skin
Correct Answer: C. Redness, warmth, and purulent drainage
Rationale: Redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, or drainage may indicate
infection. Infection involving vascular access can become serious and requires
prompt clinical evaluation.
Question 9. Why is the patient's pre-dialysis weight obtained?
A. To determine height
B. To help assess fluid gain and determine fluid removal
C. To determine blood type
D. To determine needle size
Correct Answer: B. To help assess fluid gain and determine fluid removal
Rationale: Comparing the current pre-treatment weight with the patient's
target or prescribed dry weight helps the dialysis team determine the
appropriate amount of fluid removal.
Question 10. Which finding may indicate excessive fluid removal?
A. Hypotension and muscle cramps
B. Increased appetite
C. Improved vision
D. Increased body temperature
Correct Answer: A. Hypotension and muscle cramps
Rationale: Rapid or excessive fluid removal can reduce circulating blood
volume and cause hypotension, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, and
weakness.
