& Answers(RATED A)
What are the 3 meds PCTs can administer per DaVita P&P? - ANSWER Saline,
Heparin, Lidocaine
What are the 6 items included in documenting administered medications - ANSWER
Time and date, route of administration, reason for giving, medication dosage, reason for
administering, patient response
At what time are medications containing a preservative discarded? - ANSWER 28 days
(except when the manufacturer specifies differently such as Epogen MDV at 21 days)
What size needle with the appropriate sized syringe should be used when drawing up
heparin? - ANSWER 21g x 1 inch
How long do we wait after administering the heparin loading dose prior to treatment
initiation? - ANSWER 3-5 minutes
What is the time frame during which single use medications should be prepared and
administered? - ANSWER 4 hours (unless your state specifies another time limit)
How do you verify your needle is not in the access when administering Lidocaine? -
ANSWER Aspiration (pull back) of syringe plunger
How do you administer Topical Anesthetic Spray? - ANSWER Wash arm, clean site per
P&P, Spray for 4-10 seconds from a distance of 3-7 inches, don't frost the skin-numbing
effect occurs with blanching
Why would the nephrologist order a formulary exception of Citrasate or CitraPure
dialysate concentrate? - ANSWER To use as part anticoagulation therapy during the
dialysis treatment when heparin is contraindicated.
Rearding multi-dose medication vials: - ANSWER -Labeling & Expiration: Must be
labeled with the initials of the person opening the vial and the date it was opened (must
be discarded withing 28 days except when the manufacturer specifies differently such
as Epogen at 21 days)
-Needle/syringe/vial: The vial may be entered more than once but requires a new sterile
needle and syringe to puncture each medication vial to avoid pooling of medication from
different vials.
Regarding single-dose medication vials: - ANSWER -Must be used for only one patient.
-Each vial should only be entered once and then discarded.
, -The same syringe may be used to enter up to two single use vials of the same
medication and concentration to constitute the prescribed patient dose
What does TRAMP stand for? (NOTE there is often a 6th one-documentation) -
ANSWER T: Time
R: Route
A: Amount
M: Medication
P: Patient
What are the two reasons for water treatment? - ANSWER Prevent equipment damage
Patient safety
Aluminum in water used for dialysis causes - ANSWER Anemia, done disease, nausea,
vomiting
Chloring in water used for hemodialysis causes - ANSWER hemolysis
Excess calcium and sodium in water used for dialysis causes - ANSWER hypertension
Excess calcium and magnesium water used for dialysis causes - ANSWER muscle
weakness
What does the RO remove? - ANSWER organic and inorganic materials, bacteria and
endotoxins
What are two concerns with using DI Tanks? - ANSWER Exhaust quickly
When exhausted they dump/ release previously removed ions back into water
Response to Final Water Quality Alarm - ANSWER Bypass, Notify Charge
nurse/FA/Biomed/Medical Director, if not restored must terminate treatments and
complete REM
Water/Dialysate culture results - ANSWER Acceptable level: below 50 cfu/ml
Action level: 50-99 cfu/ml
Unacceptable level: 100 cfu/ml or >
Water endotoxin testing results - ANSWER Acceptable level: below 0.12 EU/ml
Action level: 0.12 to < 0.25 EU/ml
Unacceptable level: 0.25 EU or >
Dialysate endotoxin testing results - ANSWER Acceptable level: <0.25 EU/ml
Action level: 0.25 to <0.50 EU/ml
Unacceptable level: 0.50 EU/ml or >
What removes chlorine/chloramines? - ANSWER carbon tanks