DaVita Kidney Care
MAXE · 5202 TCP
Patient Care Technician (PCT) Certification
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 2025 — Examination
D I A LYS I S 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
INSTITUTION DaVita Kidney Care COURSE CODE PCT 2025
PROGRAM Patient Care Technician ACADEMIC YEAR
Certification
EXAM TITLE PCT Certification — TOTAL QUESTIONS 145 Questions
Comprehensive 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 principles, vascular access, patient care, and emergency procedures.
▸ DaVita policies and CMS Conditions for Coverage 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 – 145
1. The patient's target weight is determined by:
A. The patient's preference
B. The nephrologist's prescription
C. Both A and B — prescribed and determined by physician's order
D. The patient's family request
CORRECT ANSWER C — Both A and B — prescribed and determined by physician's order
RATIONALE The patient's target weight is prescribed by the nephrologist based on clinical
assessment. It is documented in the physician's orders and must be followed
precisely to ensure proper fluid removal and patient safety during dialysis
treatment.
2. What are the three steps included in the vascular access assessment?
A. Look, listen, and feel
B. Inspect, palpate, and auscultate
C. Check, measure, and record
D. Ask, examine, and document
CORRECT ANSWER A — Look, listen, and feel
RATIONALE The vascular access assessment involves three steps: Look (inspect for redness,
swelling, or skin changes), Listen (auscultate for bruit using a Doppler or
stethoscope), and Feel (palpate for thrill and pulse). This comprehensive
assessment ensures access patency and detects potential complications.
,3. Scrubbing of each hub as part of CVC care is done for:
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 30 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER C — 15 seconds
RATIONALE Proper CVC care requires scrubbing each hub for 15 seconds using appropriate
antiseptic (chlorhexidine or alcohol). This ensures adequate disinfection to
prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), a significant
complication in dialysis patients.
4. The nephrologist has prescribed a 400 blood flow rate (BFR) for your patient. You would
expect the physician order to also include:
A. 14 gauge needle
B. 15 gauge needle for the prescribed BFR
C. 16 gauge needle
D. 17 gauge needle
CORRECT ANSWER B — 15 gauge needle for the prescribed BFR
RATIONALE A BFR of 400 ml/min requires a 15 gauge needle to achieve the necessary flow rate
without causing excessive pressure or hemolysis. Smaller gauge needles restrict
flow and may cause inadequate dialysis or access damage.
, 5. You listen to your patient's arteriovenous graft (AVG) and hear a whistling sound. This
finding indicates:
A. Normal flow
B. Inflow stenosis
C. Outflow stenosis
D. Aneurysm formation
CORRECT ANSWER C — Outflow stenosis
RATIONALE A whistling sound (high-pitched bruit) auscultated over an AVG indicates outflow
stenosis. This turbulent blood flow occurs when the venous outflow is narrowed,
causing increased velocity and pressure. Outflow stenosis requires intervention to
prevent graft failure.
6. To prevent the formation of aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms, the following should be
practiced:
A. Using the same needle site every time
B. Good needle site rotation and complete needle site clotting techniques
C. Applying pressure for 1 minute after needle removal
D. Using larger gauge needles to minimize trauma
CORRECT ANSWER B — Good needle site rotation and complete needle site clotting techniques
RATIONALE Aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm formation can be prevented by rotating needle
sites (using the "buttonhole" or "rope ladder" technique) and ensuring complete
clotting at the needle site post-dialysis. This prevents localized vessel wall
weakness and abnormal dilation.
MAXE · 5202 TCP
Patient Care Technician (PCT) Certification
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 2025 — Examination
D I A LYS I S 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
INSTITUTION DaVita Kidney Care COURSE CODE PCT 2025
PROGRAM Patient Care Technician ACADEMIC YEAR
Certification
EXAM TITLE PCT Certification — TOTAL QUESTIONS 145 Questions
Comprehensive 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 principles, vascular access, patient care, and emergency procedures.
▸ DaVita policies and CMS Conditions for Coverage 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 – 145
1. The patient's target weight is determined by:
A. The patient's preference
B. The nephrologist's prescription
C. Both A and B — prescribed and determined by physician's order
D. The patient's family request
CORRECT ANSWER C — Both A and B — prescribed and determined by physician's order
RATIONALE The patient's target weight is prescribed by the nephrologist based on clinical
assessment. It is documented in the physician's orders and must be followed
precisely to ensure proper fluid removal and patient safety during dialysis
treatment.
2. What are the three steps included in the vascular access assessment?
A. Look, listen, and feel
B. Inspect, palpate, and auscultate
C. Check, measure, and record
D. Ask, examine, and document
CORRECT ANSWER A — Look, listen, and feel
RATIONALE The vascular access assessment involves three steps: Look (inspect for redness,
swelling, or skin changes), Listen (auscultate for bruit using a Doppler or
stethoscope), and Feel (palpate for thrill and pulse). This comprehensive
assessment ensures access patency and detects potential complications.
,3. Scrubbing of each hub as part of CVC care is done for:
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 30 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER C — 15 seconds
RATIONALE Proper CVC care requires scrubbing each hub for 15 seconds using appropriate
antiseptic (chlorhexidine or alcohol). This ensures adequate disinfection to
prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), a significant
complication in dialysis patients.
4. The nephrologist has prescribed a 400 blood flow rate (BFR) for your patient. You would
expect the physician order to also include:
A. 14 gauge needle
B. 15 gauge needle for the prescribed BFR
C. 16 gauge needle
D. 17 gauge needle
CORRECT ANSWER B — 15 gauge needle for the prescribed BFR
RATIONALE A BFR of 400 ml/min requires a 15 gauge needle to achieve the necessary flow rate
without causing excessive pressure or hemolysis. Smaller gauge needles restrict
flow and may cause inadequate dialysis or access damage.
, 5. You listen to your patient's arteriovenous graft (AVG) and hear a whistling sound. This
finding indicates:
A. Normal flow
B. Inflow stenosis
C. Outflow stenosis
D. Aneurysm formation
CORRECT ANSWER C — Outflow stenosis
RATIONALE A whistling sound (high-pitched bruit) auscultated over an AVG indicates outflow
stenosis. This turbulent blood flow occurs when the venous outflow is narrowed,
causing increased velocity and pressure. Outflow stenosis requires intervention to
prevent graft failure.
6. To prevent the formation of aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms, the following should be
practiced:
A. Using the same needle site every time
B. Good needle site rotation and complete needle site clotting techniques
C. Applying pressure for 1 minute after needle removal
D. Using larger gauge needles to minimize trauma
CORRECT ANSWER B — Good needle site rotation and complete needle site clotting techniques
RATIONALE Aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm formation can be prevented by rotating needle
sites (using the "buttonhole" or "rope ladder" technique) and ensuring complete
clotting at the needle site post-dialysis. This prevents localized vessel wall
weakness and abnormal dilation.
