Patient Assessment Flashcards
6 cards from real CCHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Patient Assessment flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of weighing a dialysis patient before and after each treatment?
Answer: To calculate fluid removal (UF) goal and assess post-treatment dry weight achievement
Pre- and post-dialysis weights determine fluid status: pre-dialysis weight minus dry weight equals UF goal; post-dialysis weight confirms whether target dry weight was achieved.
During pre-treatment assessment, a patient reports taking a new herbal supplement for kidney health. What is the most appropriate response?
Answer: Document the supplement, inform the charge nurse, and ask the patient not to take it until cleared by the nephrologist
Many herbal supplements contain potassium, phosphorus, or nephrotoxic compounds and can interact with medications; all supplements must be reviewed by the nephrologist.
When assessing a patient's vascular access before cannulation, which finding requires withholding cannulation and notifying the charge nurse?
Answer: A large, firm, non-compressible hematoma directly over the intended needle sites
A firm hematoma over the cannulation site poses a bleeding risk if needled and may indicate recent infiltration or traumatic injury requiring evaluation before proceeding.
What does a positive Tinel's sign at the wrist suggest in a long-term hemodialysis patient with an upper arm access?
Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome, commonly caused by beta-2 microglobulin amyloid deposits
Tinel's sign (tingling when tapping the carpal tunnel) suggests carpal tunnel syndrome, which is common in long-term dialysis patients due to beta-2 microglobulin amyloid deposition.
A patient on dialysis has a serum albumin of 2.8 g/dL. What does this value indicate and why is it clinically significant?
Answer: Malnutrition with poor prognosis; requires nutritional intervention and dietary consultation
Serum albumin below 3.5 g/dL indicates malnutrition or inflammatory state, and levels below 3.0 g/dL are associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients.
During assessment, a patient's blood pressure is 185/110 mmHg pre-dialysis. What information is most important to collect before proceeding?
Answer: Current medications taken that day, compliance with antihypertensives, and comparison to baseline BP
Determining medication compliance and baseline BP patterns helps identify whether this represents a hypertensive emergency, volume-related hypertension, or medication non-compliance requiring specific intervention.