CDN Assessment 2 Clinical Dialysis, Chronic Kidney
Disease (CKD) & Renal Nursing COMPLETE EXAM LATEST
VERSION 2026-2027 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When blood is transfused into at-risk patients during heparin-free dialysis, what complication should the
nurse/technician be monitoring for?
Anaphylaxis reaction, especially respiratory compromise.
Fluid volume overload.
Increased viscosity of the blood in the dialyzer.
Citrate overdose. - answer>>Increased viscosity of the blood in the dialyzer.
The KDOQI issued the "rule of 6s" to help staff identify objective measures to assess maturation of a
new arteriovenous (AV) fistula. Six weeks after it is created, the fistula should have which
characteristics?
1. A diameter of at least 6 mm with discernible margins while a tourniquet is in place.
2. Be no more than 0.6 mm below the skin surface.
3. Have at least 6 branches on the vein where the access is located.
4. Support a blood flow rate of 360 mL/min.
1 and 3.
1 and 2.
1, 2 and 3.
,1, 2 and 4. - answer>>1. A diameter of at least 6 mm with discernible margins while a tourniquet is in
place.
2. Be no more than 0.6 mm below the skin surface.
If a dialysis patient is experiencing early AV fistula failure, which diagnostic study should the nurse
anticipate being prescribed for this patient?
1. Venography.
2. Ultrasonography.
3. Plethysmography.
4. Doppler flow study.
1 or 4.
1 or 2.
2 or 3.
3 or 4. - answer>>1. Venography.
4. Doppler flow study.
What is important to know about a proximal radial artery AV fistula?
1. This is a newer advanced surgical procedure for native AV fistula placement.
2. The arterial anastomosis is made higher in the arm.
3. When cannulating, if both needles are placed in the forearm, the venous needle should be placed
downstream.
4. If the staff can feel a thrill or hear a bruit after depressing the graft at midpoint, this is the arterial
side.
,1 and 4.
1 and 2.
1, 2 and 3.
2, 3 and 4. - answer>>1. This is a newer advanced surgical procedure for native AV fistula placement.
2. The arterial anastomosis is made higher in the arm.
3. When cannulating, if both needles are placed in the forearm, the venous needle should be placed
downstream.
A new dialysis patient is going to have an AV graft placement, and she would like to know what are the
advantages of this type of internal access. How does the nurse respond?
1. Easy to cannulate.
2. Can be used in as little as two weeks.
3. Highest blood flow rates.
4. Lowest rate of complications.
1 and 4.
1 and 2.
2 and 3.
3 and 4. - answer>>1. Easy to cannulate.
2. Can be used in as little as two weeks.
A patient tells the dialysis nurse that she woke up this morning with her fistula arm underneath her head
and that the arm has been "asleep" and feeling "funny" all day. Knowing this, which complication should
the nurse assess the patient for prior to accessing her site?
Cervical disc pain resulting in nerve damage.
, Thrombosis caused by compression of blood flow.
Aneurysm of the fistula site due to kinking of the artery.
Hyponatremia caused by interruption of blood flow in the fistula arm. - answer>>Thrombosis caused by
compression of blood flow.
During assessment of a fistula site, the nurse cannot feel the "thrill" like usual. How should the nurse
proceed at this point in the dialysis session?
An absent thrill indicates the access is clotted therefore should not be cannulated.
Cannulate with caution.
Proceed with cannulation and look for rebound blood into the lines.
Ask a more experienced nurse to verify your findings and follow their directions. - answer>>An absent
thrill indicates the access is clotted therefore should not be cannulated
How should the needles be positioned?
1. Place the needles in the same general area during each treatment.
2. Place the arterial needle near the anastomosis, keeping the tip no closer than 1 inch from the
anastomosis.
3. The usual practice is to place the arterial needle point in the direction of the flow.
4. Space the needles at least 1 inch apart.
2 and 3.
3 and 4.
Disease (CKD) & Renal Nursing COMPLETE EXAM LATEST
VERSION 2026-2027 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When blood is transfused into at-risk patients during heparin-free dialysis, what complication should the
nurse/technician be monitoring for?
Anaphylaxis reaction, especially respiratory compromise.
Fluid volume overload.
Increased viscosity of the blood in the dialyzer.
Citrate overdose. - answer>>Increased viscosity of the blood in the dialyzer.
The KDOQI issued the "rule of 6s" to help staff identify objective measures to assess maturation of a
new arteriovenous (AV) fistula. Six weeks after it is created, the fistula should have which
characteristics?
1. A diameter of at least 6 mm with discernible margins while a tourniquet is in place.
2. Be no more than 0.6 mm below the skin surface.
3. Have at least 6 branches on the vein where the access is located.
4. Support a blood flow rate of 360 mL/min.
1 and 3.
1 and 2.
1, 2 and 3.
,1, 2 and 4. - answer>>1. A diameter of at least 6 mm with discernible margins while a tourniquet is in
place.
2. Be no more than 0.6 mm below the skin surface.
If a dialysis patient is experiencing early AV fistula failure, which diagnostic study should the nurse
anticipate being prescribed for this patient?
1. Venography.
2. Ultrasonography.
3. Plethysmography.
4. Doppler flow study.
1 or 4.
1 or 2.
2 or 3.
3 or 4. - answer>>1. Venography.
4. Doppler flow study.
What is important to know about a proximal radial artery AV fistula?
1. This is a newer advanced surgical procedure for native AV fistula placement.
2. The arterial anastomosis is made higher in the arm.
3. When cannulating, if both needles are placed in the forearm, the venous needle should be placed
downstream.
4. If the staff can feel a thrill or hear a bruit after depressing the graft at midpoint, this is the arterial
side.
,1 and 4.
1 and 2.
1, 2 and 3.
2, 3 and 4. - answer>>1. This is a newer advanced surgical procedure for native AV fistula placement.
2. The arterial anastomosis is made higher in the arm.
3. When cannulating, if both needles are placed in the forearm, the venous needle should be placed
downstream.
A new dialysis patient is going to have an AV graft placement, and she would like to know what are the
advantages of this type of internal access. How does the nurse respond?
1. Easy to cannulate.
2. Can be used in as little as two weeks.
3. Highest blood flow rates.
4. Lowest rate of complications.
1 and 4.
1 and 2.
2 and 3.
3 and 4. - answer>>1. Easy to cannulate.
2. Can be used in as little as two weeks.
A patient tells the dialysis nurse that she woke up this morning with her fistula arm underneath her head
and that the arm has been "asleep" and feeling "funny" all day. Knowing this, which complication should
the nurse assess the patient for prior to accessing her site?
Cervical disc pain resulting in nerve damage.
, Thrombosis caused by compression of blood flow.
Aneurysm of the fistula site due to kinking of the artery.
Hyponatremia caused by interruption of blood flow in the fistula arm. - answer>>Thrombosis caused by
compression of blood flow.
During assessment of a fistula site, the nurse cannot feel the "thrill" like usual. How should the nurse
proceed at this point in the dialysis session?
An absent thrill indicates the access is clotted therefore should not be cannulated.
Cannulate with caution.
Proceed with cannulation and look for rebound blood into the lines.
Ask a more experienced nurse to verify your findings and follow their directions. - answer>>An absent
thrill indicates the access is clotted therefore should not be cannulated
How should the needles be positioned?
1. Place the needles in the same general area during each treatment.
2. Place the arterial needle near the anastomosis, keeping the tip no closer than 1 inch from the
anastomosis.
3. The usual practice is to place the arterial needle point in the direction of the flow.
4. Space the needles at least 1 inch apart.
2 and 3.
3 and 4.
