CCTN Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse 5

Question 1

A pancreas transplant patient develops hyperglycemia and elevated serum amylase/lipase 2 weeks post-transplant with a normal kidney function (simultaneous pancreas-kidney recipient). This is MOST suggestive of:

Accepted Answer

Pancreas allograft rejection or pancreatitis

Answer

In simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant, rising glucose combined with elevated pancreatic enzymes suggests pancreas rejection or graft pancreatitis.

Question 2

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) kidney allocation system prioritizes candidates based on all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Recipient's annual household income

Answer

UNOS allocation is based on medical and immunological factors including wait time, HLA mismatch, CPRA, and geographic proximity — not financial status.

Question 3

A liver transplant patient develops elevated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase with a normal hepatic artery Doppler 6 weeks post-transplant. MRCP shows a stricture at the biliary anastomosis. The BEST initial treatment is:

Accepted Answer

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with balloon dilation and stenting

Answer

Anastomotic biliary strictures post-liver transplant are first managed endoscopically with ERCP balloon dilation and stenting, which is effective in most cases.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the nurse's role in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score used in liver transplant prioritization?

Accepted Answer

Nurses ensure labs (INR, creatinine, bilirubin, sodium) are drawn accurately and reported promptly for MELD calculation

Answer

Transplant nurses play a critical role in ensuring accurate and timely laboratory collection, as MELD scores—used to prioritize liver allocation—are derived from INR, creatinine, bilirubin, and serum sodium.

Question 5

A heart transplant recipient experiences symptomatic bradycardia and hypotension in the immediate post-operative period. This is MOST likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Cardiac denervation, as the transplanted heart lacks autonomic innervation

Answer

The transplanted heart is surgically denervated and lacks direct autonomic control, making it dependent on circulating catecholamines and prone to bradycardia requiring chronotropic support.

CCTN - Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse Practice Test

CCTN - Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse Practice Test

CCTN Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse 5