MAXE · GNINIART TCP
DaVita Kidney Care
Patient Care Technician (PCT) Training
D
EST. 1999
Q U A L I T Y · C A R E · S E R V I C E · P AT I E N T- C E N T E R E D E X C E L L E N C E
DaVita PCT Training — Examination
PAT I E N T C A R E T E C H N I C I A N C E RT I F I C AT I O N R E V I E W
INSTITUTION DaVita Kidney Care COURSE CODE PCT Training
PROGRAM Patient Care Technician Training ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE PCT Training — Comprehensive TOTAL QUESTIONS 107 Questions
Review
COURSE TITLE Dialysis Patient Care Technician FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover dialysis adequacy, vascular access, patient care, and emergency procedures.
▸ DaVita policies and clinical best practices are emphasized.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question.
▸ All clinical data reflects current dialysis practice standards.
, SECTION I — DIALYSIS PRINCIPLES & PATIENT CARE Questions 1 – 107
1. What is adequacy in the context of dialysis treatment?
A. How well dialysis treatment is working, measured by the post-BUN lab
B. The amount of fluid removed during treatment
C. The patient's blood pressure during treatment
D. The time it takes to complete a treatment
CORRECT ANSWER A — How well dialysis treatment is working, measured by the post-BUN lab
RATIONALE Adequacy measures how well dialysis is removing waste products from the blood.
It is assessed through post-treatment BUN levels, with Kt/V goal of 1.2 or URR of
65%. Adequacy indicates whether the prescribed treatment is effective.
2. What factors affect Kt/V (dialysis adequacy)?
A. Time of treatment, frequency of treatment, and BFR/DFR
B. Only the patient's weight
C. Only the dialyzer size
D. Only the ultrafiltration rate
CORRECT ANSWER A — Time of treatment, frequency of treatment, and BFR/DFR
RATIONALE Kt/V is affected by treatment time, frequency, blood flow rate (BFR), and dialysate
flow rate (DFR). Increasing BFR and DFR increases Kt/V, as does longer or more
frequent treatments. These factors are all modifiable to achieve adequate
dialysis.
,3. Match the needle gauge to its appropriate blood flow rate (BFR):
A. 17g = 200-250, 16g = 250-350, 15g = 350-450, 14g = 450+
B. 17g = 300-400, 16g = 200-300, 15g = 400-500, 14g = 500+
C. 17g = 150-200, 16g = 200-300, 15g = 300-400, 14g = 400-500
D. 17g = 100-150, 16g = 150-250, 15g = 250-350, 14g = 350+
CORRECT ANSWER A — 17g = 200-250, 16g = 250-350, 15g = 350-450, 14g = 450+
RATIONALE Needle gauge selection is based on the prescribed BFR: 17g for 200-250 ml/min,
16g for 250-350 ml/min, 15g for 350-450 ml/min, and 14g for 450 ml/min and
above. Using the correct gauge ensures adequate flow and prevents hemolysis.
4. What is the correct procedure for obtaining a post-BUN lab draw for Kt/V?
A. Turn off UF, DFR to 300, decrease BFR to 100 ml/min, wait 15 seconds, draw from arterial
line port
B. Decrease BFR to 200, wait 30 seconds, draw from venous port
C. Turn off UF, draw immediately from arterial port
D. Increase BFR to 400, wait 10 seconds, draw from venous port
CORRECT ANSWER A — Turn off UF, DFR to 300, decrease BFR to 100 ml/min, wait 15 seconds,
draw from arterial line port
RATIONALE The post-BUN lab draw procedure: turn off ultrafiltration (UF), dialysate flow rate
(DFR) to 300, decrease BFR to 100 ml/min, wait exactly 15 seconds, then draw
from the arterial line port. This ensures accurate measurement of urea removal.
, 5. What causes Kt/V to be falsely high?
A. If you take the sample before waiting the full 15 seconds
B. If you wait longer than 15 seconds to take the sample
C. If you draw from the venous port
D. If you turn off the BFR completely
CORRECT ANSWER A — If you take the sample before waiting the full 15 seconds
RATIONALE Taking the post-BUN sample before the full 15-second wait can result in a falsely
high Kt/V because the blood hasn't fully circulated to represent systemic urea
levels. Following the proper timing is essential for accurate adequacy
measurement.
6. What causes Kt/V to be falsely low?
A. If you take the sample before waiting the full 15 seconds
B. If you wait longer than 15 seconds to take the sample
C. If you draw from the arterial port
D. If you turn off the UF
CORRECT ANSWER B — If you wait longer than 15 seconds to take the sample
RATIONALE Waiting longer than 15 seconds before drawing the post-BUN sample can cause a
falsely low Kt/V due to recirculation of blood in the circuit. Proper timing is
essential for accurate urea clearance measurement.
DaVita Kidney Care
Patient Care Technician (PCT) Training
D
EST. 1999
Q U A L I T Y · C A R E · S E R V I C E · P AT I E N T- C E N T E R E D E X C E L L E N C E
DaVita PCT Training — Examination
PAT I E N T C A R E T E C H N I C I A N C E RT I F I C AT I O N R E V I E W
INSTITUTION DaVita Kidney Care COURSE CODE PCT Training
PROGRAM Patient Care Technician Training ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE PCT Training — Comprehensive TOTAL QUESTIONS 107 Questions
Review
COURSE TITLE Dialysis Patient Care Technician FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover dialysis adequacy, vascular access, patient care, and emergency procedures.
▸ DaVita policies and clinical best practices are emphasized.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question.
▸ All clinical data reflects current dialysis practice standards.
, SECTION I — DIALYSIS PRINCIPLES & PATIENT CARE Questions 1 – 107
1. What is adequacy in the context of dialysis treatment?
A. How well dialysis treatment is working, measured by the post-BUN lab
B. The amount of fluid removed during treatment
C. The patient's blood pressure during treatment
D. The time it takes to complete a treatment
CORRECT ANSWER A — How well dialysis treatment is working, measured by the post-BUN lab
RATIONALE Adequacy measures how well dialysis is removing waste products from the blood.
It is assessed through post-treatment BUN levels, with Kt/V goal of 1.2 or URR of
65%. Adequacy indicates whether the prescribed treatment is effective.
2. What factors affect Kt/V (dialysis adequacy)?
A. Time of treatment, frequency of treatment, and BFR/DFR
B. Only the patient's weight
C. Only the dialyzer size
D. Only the ultrafiltration rate
CORRECT ANSWER A — Time of treatment, frequency of treatment, and BFR/DFR
RATIONALE Kt/V is affected by treatment time, frequency, blood flow rate (BFR), and dialysate
flow rate (DFR). Increasing BFR and DFR increases Kt/V, as does longer or more
frequent treatments. These factors are all modifiable to achieve adequate
dialysis.
,3. Match the needle gauge to its appropriate blood flow rate (BFR):
A. 17g = 200-250, 16g = 250-350, 15g = 350-450, 14g = 450+
B. 17g = 300-400, 16g = 200-300, 15g = 400-500, 14g = 500+
C. 17g = 150-200, 16g = 200-300, 15g = 300-400, 14g = 400-500
D. 17g = 100-150, 16g = 150-250, 15g = 250-350, 14g = 350+
CORRECT ANSWER A — 17g = 200-250, 16g = 250-350, 15g = 350-450, 14g = 450+
RATIONALE Needle gauge selection is based on the prescribed BFR: 17g for 200-250 ml/min,
16g for 250-350 ml/min, 15g for 350-450 ml/min, and 14g for 450 ml/min and
above. Using the correct gauge ensures adequate flow and prevents hemolysis.
4. What is the correct procedure for obtaining a post-BUN lab draw for Kt/V?
A. Turn off UF, DFR to 300, decrease BFR to 100 ml/min, wait 15 seconds, draw from arterial
line port
B. Decrease BFR to 200, wait 30 seconds, draw from venous port
C. Turn off UF, draw immediately from arterial port
D. Increase BFR to 400, wait 10 seconds, draw from venous port
CORRECT ANSWER A — Turn off UF, DFR to 300, decrease BFR to 100 ml/min, wait 15 seconds,
draw from arterial line port
RATIONALE The post-BUN lab draw procedure: turn off ultrafiltration (UF), dialysate flow rate
(DFR) to 300, decrease BFR to 100 ml/min, wait exactly 15 seconds, then draw
from the arterial line port. This ensures accurate measurement of urea removal.
, 5. What causes Kt/V to be falsely high?
A. If you take the sample before waiting the full 15 seconds
B. If you wait longer than 15 seconds to take the sample
C. If you draw from the venous port
D. If you turn off the BFR completely
CORRECT ANSWER A — If you take the sample before waiting the full 15 seconds
RATIONALE Taking the post-BUN sample before the full 15-second wait can result in a falsely
high Kt/V because the blood hasn't fully circulated to represent systemic urea
levels. Following the proper timing is essential for accurate adequacy
measurement.
6. What causes Kt/V to be falsely low?
A. If you take the sample before waiting the full 15 seconds
B. If you wait longer than 15 seconds to take the sample
C. If you draw from the arterial port
D. If you turn off the UF
CORRECT ANSWER B — If you wait longer than 15 seconds to take the sample
RATIONALE Waiting longer than 15 seconds before drawing the post-BUN sample can cause a
falsely low Kt/V due to recirculation of blood in the circuit. Proper timing is
essential for accurate urea clearance measurement.
