CERTIFIED HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN (CHT) COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |LATEST UPLOAD
1. What is the primary function of the kidneys?
A. Produce insulin
B. Filter waste products from the blood
C. Digest proteins
D. Produce oxygen
Correct Answer: B. Filter waste products from the blood
Rationale:
The kidneys remove waste products, excess fluid, and toxins from the bloodstream while
maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance. This filtration process is essential for
homeostasis.
2. Which electrolyte is most commonly elevated in patients with kidney failure?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Magnesium
Correct Answer: C. Potassium
Rationale:
Kidneys normally excrete potassium. When kidney function declines, potassium
accumulates in the blood, leading to hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening
cardiac arrhythmias.
3. Hemodialysis primarily removes waste products through which process?
A. Osmosis
B. Filtration
C. Diffusion
D. Respiration
Correct Answer: C. Diffusion
,Rationale:
Diffusion is the movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration to lower
concentration across a semipermeable membrane. This is how waste products like urea
are removed during dialysis.
4. What is the normal range for adult blood pressure?
A. 80/40 mmHg
B. 120/80 mmHg
C. 150/100 mmHg
D. 200/120 mmHg
Correct Answer: B. 120/80 mmHg
Rationale:
A blood pressure near 120/80 mmHg is considered normal for healthy adults. Monitoring
blood pressure is essential in dialysis patients because hypertension is common in kidney
disease.
5. Which vascular access is considered the preferred access for long-term
hemodialysis?
A. Central venous catheter
B. PICC line
C. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF)
D. Peripheral IV
Correct Answer: C. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF)
Rationale:
An AV fistula is preferred because it has the lowest infection risk, longest lifespan, and best
blood flow for effective dialysis treatment.
6. The “thrill” of an AV fistula refers to:
A. Patient anxiety
B. Bruising around the access
,C. A vibration felt over the access
D. A blood clot
Correct Answer: C. A vibration felt over the access
Rationale:
A thrill is the buzzing vibration palpated over a functioning AV fistula or graft, indicating
blood flow through the access.
7. Which laboratory value is commonly used to evaluate dialysis adequacy?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Kt/V
C. Platelet count
D. WBC count
Correct Answer: B. Kt/V
Rationale:
Kt/V measures dialysis adequacy by evaluating how effectively urea is removed during
treatment.
8. A dialysis patient complains of muscle cramps during treatment. What is the MOST
likely cause?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Rapid fluid removal
C. Infection
D. Excess potassium
Correct Answer: B. Rapid fluid removal
Rationale:
Excessive ultrafiltration can lead to fluid volume depletion, causing painful muscle cramps
during dialysis.
9. What does ESRD stand for?
, A. End Stage Renal Disease
B. Early Systemic Renal Dysfunction
C. Endocrine Sodium Retention Disorder
D. Emergency Surgical Renal Dialysis
Correct Answer: A. End Stage Renal Disease
Rationale:
ESRD is the final stage of chronic kidney disease where kidney function is severely
impaired and dialysis or transplant is required.
10. Which symptom may indicate hypotension during dialysis?
A. Headache
B. Fever
C. Dizziness
D. Rash
Correct Answer: C. Dizziness
Rationale:
Low blood pressure during dialysis commonly causes dizziness, nausea, sweating, and
faintness.
11. What is the purpose of heparin during dialysis?
A. Lower blood glucose
B. Prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit
C. Reduce infection risk
D. Increase urine output
Correct Answer: B. Prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit
Rationale:
Heparin is an anticoagulant used during dialysis to prevent blood clot formation in the
tubing and dialyzer.
12. Which infection-control practice is MOST important in dialysis units?
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |LATEST UPLOAD
1. What is the primary function of the kidneys?
A. Produce insulin
B. Filter waste products from the blood
C. Digest proteins
D. Produce oxygen
Correct Answer: B. Filter waste products from the blood
Rationale:
The kidneys remove waste products, excess fluid, and toxins from the bloodstream while
maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance. This filtration process is essential for
homeostasis.
2. Which electrolyte is most commonly elevated in patients with kidney failure?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Magnesium
Correct Answer: C. Potassium
Rationale:
Kidneys normally excrete potassium. When kidney function declines, potassium
accumulates in the blood, leading to hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening
cardiac arrhythmias.
3. Hemodialysis primarily removes waste products through which process?
A. Osmosis
B. Filtration
C. Diffusion
D. Respiration
Correct Answer: C. Diffusion
,Rationale:
Diffusion is the movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration to lower
concentration across a semipermeable membrane. This is how waste products like urea
are removed during dialysis.
4. What is the normal range for adult blood pressure?
A. 80/40 mmHg
B. 120/80 mmHg
C. 150/100 mmHg
D. 200/120 mmHg
Correct Answer: B. 120/80 mmHg
Rationale:
A blood pressure near 120/80 mmHg is considered normal for healthy adults. Monitoring
blood pressure is essential in dialysis patients because hypertension is common in kidney
disease.
5. Which vascular access is considered the preferred access for long-term
hemodialysis?
A. Central venous catheter
B. PICC line
C. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF)
D. Peripheral IV
Correct Answer: C. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF)
Rationale:
An AV fistula is preferred because it has the lowest infection risk, longest lifespan, and best
blood flow for effective dialysis treatment.
6. The “thrill” of an AV fistula refers to:
A. Patient anxiety
B. Bruising around the access
,C. A vibration felt over the access
D. A blood clot
Correct Answer: C. A vibration felt over the access
Rationale:
A thrill is the buzzing vibration palpated over a functioning AV fistula or graft, indicating
blood flow through the access.
7. Which laboratory value is commonly used to evaluate dialysis adequacy?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Kt/V
C. Platelet count
D. WBC count
Correct Answer: B. Kt/V
Rationale:
Kt/V measures dialysis adequacy by evaluating how effectively urea is removed during
treatment.
8. A dialysis patient complains of muscle cramps during treatment. What is the MOST
likely cause?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Rapid fluid removal
C. Infection
D. Excess potassium
Correct Answer: B. Rapid fluid removal
Rationale:
Excessive ultrafiltration can lead to fluid volume depletion, causing painful muscle cramps
during dialysis.
9. What does ESRD stand for?
, A. End Stage Renal Disease
B. Early Systemic Renal Dysfunction
C. Endocrine Sodium Retention Disorder
D. Emergency Surgical Renal Dialysis
Correct Answer: A. End Stage Renal Disease
Rationale:
ESRD is the final stage of chronic kidney disease where kidney function is severely
impaired and dialysis or transplant is required.
10. Which symptom may indicate hypotension during dialysis?
A. Headache
B. Fever
C. Dizziness
D. Rash
Correct Answer: C. Dizziness
Rationale:
Low blood pressure during dialysis commonly causes dizziness, nausea, sweating, and
faintness.
11. What is the purpose of heparin during dialysis?
A. Lower blood glucose
B. Prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit
C. Reduce infection risk
D. Increase urine output
Correct Answer: B. Prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit
Rationale:
Heparin is an anticoagulant used during dialysis to prevent blood clot formation in the
tubing and dialyzer.
12. Which infection-control practice is MOST important in dialysis units?
