Dialysis Technician Exam Study
Guide 2026 ACTUAL eXAM PREP WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS 178 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
What foods are high in phosphorus - ANSWER-Dairy, Meats, Nuts, Peanuts, Dried
Beans & Peas, Whole Grains, Chocolate, Colas
What foods are high in potassium - ANSWER-Avocados, Mangos, Bananas, Orange
Juice, Dried Fruit, Cantaloupe, Dried Peas, Beans, Tomato Sauce, & Potatoes
What are the two hemodialysis delivery systems? - ANSWER-Extracorpeal (blood) &
Dialysate
During dialysis, ultrfiltration occurs when: - ANSWER-Water is removed from blood
because there is a pressure gradient across a membrane
What are the hemodialysis treatment options? - ANSWER-In-Center, Nocturnal, Short
Daily
What development in dialysis came first? - ANSWER-Dr. Kolff's rotating drum
What is the definition for dry-weight? - ANSWER-Post-dialysis weight at which all or
most excess fluid has been removed
How are clinics paid by Medicare for dialysis? - ANSWER-Composite Rate
The primary cause of the anemia of ESRD is: - ANSWER-Erythropoietin Deficiency
What isn't a component of the Extracorpeal Circuit? - ANSWER-Blood Leak Detector
What waste product of muscle metabolism is removed by healthy kidneys? - ANSWER-
Creatinine
What line is a negative pressure? - ANSWER-Arterial
What is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease for adults in the U.S.? - ANSWER-
Diabetes
What are the symptoms of puritis? - ANSWER-Itching
Why must water used for dialysate be treated? - ANSWER-Dialysis patients are
exposed to large volumes of water during dialysis
What is the U.V. light and what does it do? - ANSWER-Invisible radiation that destroys
microorganisms
Which patients may benefit from an increased bicarbonate concentration? - ANSWER-
Poorly compliant with regards to fluid intake
If an air embolism occurs, how should a patient be placed? - ANSWER-Trendelenberg
on the left side
What symptom is "cherry pop" colored blood? - ANSWER-Hemolysis
When does first-use syndrome usually appear? - ANSWER-15-30 minutes of starting
treatment
What are the two main types of dialysis? - ANSWER-Hemodialysis & Peritoneal Dialysis
, What is the functional unit of the kidney, or the structure in the kidney that does the
work? - ANSWER-Nephron
Severe chest pain and dyspnea are symptoms of what? - ANSWER-Air Embolism
What are the symptoms of first use syndrome? - ANSWER-Back pain 15 minutes into
treatment
What are symptoms of anemia? - ANSWER-Weak, Syanotic, Dizzy
What are three signs or symptoms of an access infection? - ANSWER-Drainage, Fever,
Swelling
What is the pressure across the dialyzer membrane? - ANSWER-TMP -
Transmembrane Pressure
What are the symptoms of an air embolism? - ANSWER-Shortness of breath,
Coughing, Confusion
What is a long-term complications of a fistulae? - ANSWER-Thrombosis
What are the symptoms of a pyrogen reaction? - ANSWER-Fever, Chills
What are the symptoms of disequilibrium syndrome? - ANSWER-Headache
What would a rapid pulse of 104 beats per minute indicate? - ANSWER-Tachycardia
What does infiltration mean? - ANSWER-A needle tip that punctures a vessel and goes
out the other side, so blood escapes into the tissues
According to AAMI standards, when should bacteriologic testing for water and dialysate
take place? - ANSWER-Monthly
What is the first step in the port/catheter pre-dialysis assessment? - ANSWER-
Assessing the ease of heparin removal and saline flushing before connecting bloodlines
What would be a cause of hypotension during and after dialysis? - ANSWER-Removing
too much fluid
How frequently should the carbon tanks be checked for chlorine and chloramines? -
ANSWER-Each shift
What complication can happen to grafts if the needle sites are not rotated? - ANSWER-
Pseudoaneurysm
What can cause a dialyzer membrane leak? - ANSWER-Any damage to the dialyzer
What is included in the dialysate delivery system monitors? - ANSWER-Conductivity,
pH, Flow Rate
What is the measurement of ions or particles that carry an electrical charge known as? -
ANSWER-Conductivity
Who must check the dialyzer to verify quality control information? - ANSWER-Two
people, one of whom should be the charge nurse
What symptom occurs due to dialysate that is too hot? - ANSWER-Hemolysis
What activity does the water softener perform? - ANSWER-Removes calcium and
magnesium from water
What is a way to prevent infection in catheters? - ANSWER-Wash hands and change
gloves prior to touching the catheter
Which organization sets the standards and recommendations for dialyzer reprocessing?
- ANSWER-AAMI
What substance may be added to municipal drinking water supplied to make the water
cleaner? - ANSWER-Bleach
What is dialysate a mixture of? - ANSWER-Acid, Bicarbonate, Water
Why should you rotate needle sites on a fistula? - ANSWER-To prevent aneurysms
Guide 2026 ACTUAL eXAM PREP WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS 178 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
What foods are high in phosphorus - ANSWER-Dairy, Meats, Nuts, Peanuts, Dried
Beans & Peas, Whole Grains, Chocolate, Colas
What foods are high in potassium - ANSWER-Avocados, Mangos, Bananas, Orange
Juice, Dried Fruit, Cantaloupe, Dried Peas, Beans, Tomato Sauce, & Potatoes
What are the two hemodialysis delivery systems? - ANSWER-Extracorpeal (blood) &
Dialysate
During dialysis, ultrfiltration occurs when: - ANSWER-Water is removed from blood
because there is a pressure gradient across a membrane
What are the hemodialysis treatment options? - ANSWER-In-Center, Nocturnal, Short
Daily
What development in dialysis came first? - ANSWER-Dr. Kolff's rotating drum
What is the definition for dry-weight? - ANSWER-Post-dialysis weight at which all or
most excess fluid has been removed
How are clinics paid by Medicare for dialysis? - ANSWER-Composite Rate
The primary cause of the anemia of ESRD is: - ANSWER-Erythropoietin Deficiency
What isn't a component of the Extracorpeal Circuit? - ANSWER-Blood Leak Detector
What waste product of muscle metabolism is removed by healthy kidneys? - ANSWER-
Creatinine
What line is a negative pressure? - ANSWER-Arterial
What is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease for adults in the U.S.? - ANSWER-
Diabetes
What are the symptoms of puritis? - ANSWER-Itching
Why must water used for dialysate be treated? - ANSWER-Dialysis patients are
exposed to large volumes of water during dialysis
What is the U.V. light and what does it do? - ANSWER-Invisible radiation that destroys
microorganisms
Which patients may benefit from an increased bicarbonate concentration? - ANSWER-
Poorly compliant with regards to fluid intake
If an air embolism occurs, how should a patient be placed? - ANSWER-Trendelenberg
on the left side
What symptom is "cherry pop" colored blood? - ANSWER-Hemolysis
When does first-use syndrome usually appear? - ANSWER-15-30 minutes of starting
treatment
What are the two main types of dialysis? - ANSWER-Hemodialysis & Peritoneal Dialysis
, What is the functional unit of the kidney, or the structure in the kidney that does the
work? - ANSWER-Nephron
Severe chest pain and dyspnea are symptoms of what? - ANSWER-Air Embolism
What are the symptoms of first use syndrome? - ANSWER-Back pain 15 minutes into
treatment
What are symptoms of anemia? - ANSWER-Weak, Syanotic, Dizzy
What are three signs or symptoms of an access infection? - ANSWER-Drainage, Fever,
Swelling
What is the pressure across the dialyzer membrane? - ANSWER-TMP -
Transmembrane Pressure
What are the symptoms of an air embolism? - ANSWER-Shortness of breath,
Coughing, Confusion
What is a long-term complications of a fistulae? - ANSWER-Thrombosis
What are the symptoms of a pyrogen reaction? - ANSWER-Fever, Chills
What are the symptoms of disequilibrium syndrome? - ANSWER-Headache
What would a rapid pulse of 104 beats per minute indicate? - ANSWER-Tachycardia
What does infiltration mean? - ANSWER-A needle tip that punctures a vessel and goes
out the other side, so blood escapes into the tissues
According to AAMI standards, when should bacteriologic testing for water and dialysate
take place? - ANSWER-Monthly
What is the first step in the port/catheter pre-dialysis assessment? - ANSWER-
Assessing the ease of heparin removal and saline flushing before connecting bloodlines
What would be a cause of hypotension during and after dialysis? - ANSWER-Removing
too much fluid
How frequently should the carbon tanks be checked for chlorine and chloramines? -
ANSWER-Each shift
What complication can happen to grafts if the needle sites are not rotated? - ANSWER-
Pseudoaneurysm
What can cause a dialyzer membrane leak? - ANSWER-Any damage to the dialyzer
What is included in the dialysate delivery system monitors? - ANSWER-Conductivity,
pH, Flow Rate
What is the measurement of ions or particles that carry an electrical charge known as? -
ANSWER-Conductivity
Who must check the dialyzer to verify quality control information? - ANSWER-Two
people, one of whom should be the charge nurse
What symptom occurs due to dialysate that is too hot? - ANSWER-Hemolysis
What activity does the water softener perform? - ANSWER-Removes calcium and
magnesium from water
What is a way to prevent infection in catheters? - ANSWER-Wash hands and change
gloves prior to touching the catheter
Which organization sets the standards and recommendations for dialyzer reprocessing?
- ANSWER-AAMI
What substance may be added to municipal drinking water supplied to make the water
cleaner? - ANSWER-Bleach
What is dialysate a mixture of? - ANSWER-Acid, Bicarbonate, Water
Why should you rotate needle sites on a fistula? - ANSWER-To prevent aneurysms
