Want to test your diagnostics knowledge before the CNN exam? Below are free sample flashcards from the 70-card diagnostics section of our 1020-card CNN (Certified Nephrology Nurse) deck, which covers UACR, Urine Albumin, Creatinine Ratio, SVP and more.
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A 55-year-old patient has a confirmed eGFR of 48 mL/min/1.73m² and a Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR) of 150 mg/g, both persisting for 5 months. According to KDIGO, what is the correct G/A stage and the clinical significance?
Show answer →Stage: G3aA2 (Moderately increased albuminuria). Rationale: G3a represents eGFR 45-59; A2 represents UACR 30-300 mg/g. CKD is defined by abnormalities of kidney structure or function persisting for >3 months. Exam Strategy: NNCC focuses on the 3-month duration requirement. A single lab value is insufficient for staging; always look for the duration in the prompt. G3aA2 indicates Yellow/Orange risk (Moderate to High) for progression and CV events.
A patient's Static Venous Pressure (SVP) ratio is 0.55 in an AVG. What does this ratio indicate, and what is the critical procedural step to ensure the accuracy of this measurement?
Show answer →An SVP ratio >0.5 in an AVG suggests venous outflow stenosis. Formula: (Static Venous Pressure / Mean Arterial Pressure). Critical Step: Static pressure MUST be measured with the blood pump OFF. If the pump is on, you are measuring Dynamic Venous Pressure, which is influenced by needle gauge and blood flow rate (Qb). NNCC Focus: Chronic elevation of SVP is a stronger predictor of graft failure than a single high reading. Ensure the arm is at heart level during measurement to avoid hydrostatic pressure errors.
A CNN notes that a patient's Kt/V is consistently low despite a high blood flow rate (Qb 450 mL/min) and a large dialyzer. If the dialysate flow (Qd) is currently 500 mL/min, what adjustment might improve clearance?
Show answer →Increase the Dialysate Flow Rate (Qd) to 800 mL/min. Rationale: Dialysis clearance (K) depends on the concentration gradient between blood and dialysate. At high Qb (450), a low Qd (500) can lead to dialysate saturation, where the dialysate quickly picks up urea and loses its ability to pull more from the blood. Increasing Qd maintains a steeper gradient. Exam Strategy: The ratio of Qd to Qb should ideally be at least 1.5 to 2 times the Qb for optimal efficiency in high-flux dialysis.
A 28-year-old female on PD presents with pink-tinged effluent during her menstrual cycle. She is afebrile and denies pain. What is the most likely benign cause and the recommended management?
Show answer →Cause: Retrograde Menstruation. This occurs when menstrual blood flows through the Fallopian tubes into the peritoneal cavity. It is a common, benign cause of hemoperitoneum in menstruating women. Management: Observation and reassurance. No specific treatment is required if the patient is asymptomatic and the effluent clears after the menses ends. *Exam Tip:* Differentiate this from Emergency Hemoperitoneum (e.g., ruptured ectopic pregnancy or SEP) by checking for hemodynamic stability and the absence of acute abdominal pain.
What is the significance of Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) values in Single Antigen Bead (SAB) testing?
Show answer →MFI is a semi-quantitative measure of the strength/concentration of HLA antibodies in the recipient's serum. Higher MFI values (typically >3000-5000, though lab-specific) suggest a strong antibody that is more likely to cause a positive physical crossmatch and lead to rejection. NNCC Tip: MFI trends are monitored post-transplant; a rising MFI of a Donor Specific Antibody (DSA) is a red flag for impending Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR).
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Try 30 free CNN cards firstThe full CNN deck contains 1020 flashcards, and 70 of them focus on diagnostics. This page shows 5 free samples.
Our CNN deck dedicates 70 of 1020 cards (7%) to diagnostics — always cross-check the official NNCC exam outline for the current blueprint weighting.
Yes — the samples on this page are free, and the CNN preview page has 30 more free cards. Full access to all 1020 cards is a one-time $7.
Assessment
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Basics
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Management
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Pathology
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Pharmacology
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Procedures
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