Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) Exam – Sample

Diabetic nephropathy results from an elevation of blood pressure, increasing the workload of the glomeruli. The glomeruli thicken and allow serum albumin to pass into the urine. Which of the following signs and symptoms indicate diabetic nephropathy?

What steps need to be taken to diagnose and eliminate the problem of dialysate leakage during peritoneal dialysis?

Certain precautions must be followed when performing dialysis on a recent transplant recipient. All of the following statements regarding dialysis for the post-transplant patient are true EXCEPT:

A patient is admitted with the following signs and symptoms: edema around the eyes upon awakening, progressing to general swelling of the legs and body; weight gain; fatigue; headache; nausea; vomiting; frequent hiccoughs; and itching. A urine specimen is obtained, and the urine is frothy. The patient has a history of insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes), which is poorly controlled, and high blood pressure, and his blood work comes back showing an elevated cholesterol level. Which of the following disease processes would you suspect?

Damaged kidneys lose their ability to produce erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the formation of red blood cells. What is usually prescribed to stimulate erythropoiesis in patients with chronic kidney disease?

There are two mechanisms of dialysis: diffusion and ultrafiltration. Which of the following statements best describe ultrafiltration (convective transport)?

Which of the following dialyzers uses the rectangular cross section for basic blood flow geometries?

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate polymer, which is the main structural material found in plant life. Membranes manufactured from cellulose are frequently used in dialysis. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this type of membrane?

A peritoneal dialysis patient presents with complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. He states that the solution he emptied from his dialysis outflow was cloudy. What tests should the physician order at this time?

A patient is admitted for testing as a renal transplantation recipient. Upon reviewing the blood work, the nurse notices that his blood type is B-. When determining kidney compatibility for this patient, what are the factors involving blood type that must be considered?