NURSING Dialysis Questions and Answers
Updated 2026
Who first described Dialysis? - AnswerThomas Graham in 1854
Who first described renal failure? - AnswerRichard bright
Who was the first MD to perform HD(hemodialysis) on a patient? - AnswerGeorge Haas 1924
Who is considered the father of dialysis? - AnswerWillem Kollf
Why is Willem Kollf considered the father of dialysis? - AnswerHe is responsible for the first artificial
dialyzer and blue print for the first Dialysis machine
What regulatory function does the kidneys serve in the body? - AnswerThe kidneys regulate fluid
balance, electrolyte balance, and Acid/Base balance
What hormonal function do the kidneys serve? - Answer-RBC production(erythropoietin)
-Blood pressure (renin/prostoglandins/bradykinin)
-Vitamin D activation
What is Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD)? - AnswerChronic kidney disease is anything that damages the
kidneys over a period of time.
Does CKD require dialysis? - AnswerNo, the kidneys are damaged but still function.
What will most patients with CKD eventually lead to? - AnswerEnd Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
What is ESRD? - AnswerThis is when the kidneys do not function well enough to sustain life.
What needs to happen for someone with ESRD to sustain life? - AnswerThe person needs a Kidney
Transplant or Dialysis to sustain life.
,What are some causes of CKD and ESRD? - Answer- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Nephritis
- Medications(nephrotoxic)
- Injuries
- PKD(polycystic kidney disease)
What are some goals of hemodialysis? - Answer-Remove excess fluid from the blood
-balance blood electrolytes
-rid the body of unwanted waste
How is hemodialysis achieved? - AnswerIt uses a semipermeable membrane, diffusion, osmosis,
ultrafiltration and convection to clean the blood.
How do we know a patient is ready for dialysis? - AnswerThe MD will at the GFR less than 15 require
dialysis
Can a patient going through Acute Renal Failure(ARF) go through dialysis? - AnswerYes, to regain
function.
How do we know if an ARF patient is regaining function? - AnswerThe MD will look at the
electrolytes, GFR and creatinine to determine if the patient is stable enough. (not in our scope of
practice but good to know)
In- Center Hemodialysis - AnswerIm guessing this a walk-in dialysis place
How many times does a patient come in for treatment at a dialysis center? - Answer3 times a week
for 3-4 hours
What must the patient have in order to revive dialysis? - AnswerMust have an access point for
dialysis such as a AV fistula, Graft, or Central Venous Catheter(CVC).
What happens during dialysis? - AnswerA patient is hooked up to a Hemodialysis machine that
circulates blood through an artificial kidney(dialyzer)
, What medications does a patient receive while at the center? - AnswerReceives medication for
hormones no longer secreted.
What would a patient receive during dialysis to prevent clots? - AnswerHeparin before and maybe
during.
How do we know what levels to run the dialysis machine at? - AnswerLabs are monitored to adjust
dose of dialysis and hormone medication.
Who are the dialysis patients able to talk to while at the center? - AnswerDietician and Social worker
each treatment.
How many times does the patient see the NP? - AnswerWeekly
How many times does the patient see the MD? - AnswerMonthly
In-Patient Dialysis - Answerat hospital
Who may require emergency dialysis when they come into the hospital? - AnswerA patient with
ARF/AKI may require emergency dialysis.
What are 2 things that may require dialysis for a patient in the hospital? - Answer-Crushing
injuries(potassium is to high)
-Over doses- substance must dialyzable(lithium/ salicylic acid)
What happens if a patient is non-compliant with out patient dialysis? - AnswerThey may go In patient
for treatment because of fluid over-load
Who are some people that may require in-patient dialysis? - Answer-Patients with other co-morbity
- May run shorter more frequent treatments(2hours a day to pull more fluid off)
- Patient is unstable and requires 1:1 care
-Some not diagnosed with ESRD
Updated 2026
Who first described Dialysis? - AnswerThomas Graham in 1854
Who first described renal failure? - AnswerRichard bright
Who was the first MD to perform HD(hemodialysis) on a patient? - AnswerGeorge Haas 1924
Who is considered the father of dialysis? - AnswerWillem Kollf
Why is Willem Kollf considered the father of dialysis? - AnswerHe is responsible for the first artificial
dialyzer and blue print for the first Dialysis machine
What regulatory function does the kidneys serve in the body? - AnswerThe kidneys regulate fluid
balance, electrolyte balance, and Acid/Base balance
What hormonal function do the kidneys serve? - Answer-RBC production(erythropoietin)
-Blood pressure (renin/prostoglandins/bradykinin)
-Vitamin D activation
What is Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD)? - AnswerChronic kidney disease is anything that damages the
kidneys over a period of time.
Does CKD require dialysis? - AnswerNo, the kidneys are damaged but still function.
What will most patients with CKD eventually lead to? - AnswerEnd Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
What is ESRD? - AnswerThis is when the kidneys do not function well enough to sustain life.
What needs to happen for someone with ESRD to sustain life? - AnswerThe person needs a Kidney
Transplant or Dialysis to sustain life.
,What are some causes of CKD and ESRD? - Answer- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Nephritis
- Medications(nephrotoxic)
- Injuries
- PKD(polycystic kidney disease)
What are some goals of hemodialysis? - Answer-Remove excess fluid from the blood
-balance blood electrolytes
-rid the body of unwanted waste
How is hemodialysis achieved? - AnswerIt uses a semipermeable membrane, diffusion, osmosis,
ultrafiltration and convection to clean the blood.
How do we know a patient is ready for dialysis? - AnswerThe MD will at the GFR less than 15 require
dialysis
Can a patient going through Acute Renal Failure(ARF) go through dialysis? - AnswerYes, to regain
function.
How do we know if an ARF patient is regaining function? - AnswerThe MD will look at the
electrolytes, GFR and creatinine to determine if the patient is stable enough. (not in our scope of
practice but good to know)
In- Center Hemodialysis - AnswerIm guessing this a walk-in dialysis place
How many times does a patient come in for treatment at a dialysis center? - Answer3 times a week
for 3-4 hours
What must the patient have in order to revive dialysis? - AnswerMust have an access point for
dialysis such as a AV fistula, Graft, or Central Venous Catheter(CVC).
What happens during dialysis? - AnswerA patient is hooked up to a Hemodialysis machine that
circulates blood through an artificial kidney(dialyzer)
, What medications does a patient receive while at the center? - AnswerReceives medication for
hormones no longer secreted.
What would a patient receive during dialysis to prevent clots? - AnswerHeparin before and maybe
during.
How do we know what levels to run the dialysis machine at? - AnswerLabs are monitored to adjust
dose of dialysis and hormone medication.
Who are the dialysis patients able to talk to while at the center? - AnswerDietician and Social worker
each treatment.
How many times does the patient see the NP? - AnswerWeekly
How many times does the patient see the MD? - AnswerMonthly
In-Patient Dialysis - Answerat hospital
Who may require emergency dialysis when they come into the hospital? - AnswerA patient with
ARF/AKI may require emergency dialysis.
What are 2 things that may require dialysis for a patient in the hospital? - Answer-Crushing
injuries(potassium is to high)
-Over doses- substance must dialyzable(lithium/ salicylic acid)
What happens if a patient is non-compliant with out patient dialysis? - AnswerThey may go In patient
for treatment because of fluid over-load
Who are some people that may require in-patient dialysis? - Answer-Patients with other co-morbity
- May run shorter more frequent treatments(2hours a day to pull more fluid off)
- Patient is unstable and requires 1:1 care
-Some not diagnosed with ESRD
