CDN CERTIFIED DIALYSIS NURSE EXAM ACTUAL TEST
BANK 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES (RELIABLE ANSWERS) CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION 2026 EDITION |GUARANTEED PASS A+
|FULL REVISED EXAM | JUST RELEASED
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum
potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. The nurse should first:
A) Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B) Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
C) Prepare the patient for hemodialysis
D) Restrict oral fluids to 1,000 mL/day
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K⁺ > 6.5 mEq/L) poses an immediate risk
of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The priority nursing action is
to place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring to detect and
treat dysrhythmias promptly. While Kayexalate, hemodialysis, and
fluid restriction may be indicated, cardiac monitoring is the
immediate priority to ensure patient safety.
2. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the
glomerulus?
A) Reabsorption of water and electrolytes
,B) Secretion of erythropoietin
C) Filtration of blood to form ultrafiltrate
D) Filtration of blood to form ultrafiltrate
Rationale: The glomerulus is a network of capillaries that filters
blood under pressure, allowing water and small solutes to pass into
Bowman's space while retaining proteins and blood cells. This
ultrafiltrate is the first step in urine formation. Reabsorption occurs
primarily in the tubules, and erythropoietin is secreted by interstitial
cells.
3. In CKD staging, a patient with an eGFR of 25 mL/min/1.73 m²
is classified as which stage?
A) Stage 2
B) Stage 3
C) Stage 4
D) Stage 5
Rationale: CKD is staged based on GFR: Stage 1: ≥90, Stage 2: 60-
89, Stage 3: 30-59, Stage 4: 15-29, Stage 5: <15 or dialysis. An eGFR
of 25 mL/min/1.73 m² falls within Stage 4 (15-29), indicating severe
kidney dysfunction and preparation for renal replacement therapy.
4. Which hormone is primarily responsible for stimulating red blood
cell production in patients with chronic kidney disease?
,A) Erythropoietin
B) Renin
C) Calcitriol
D) Aldosterone
Rationale: Erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and
stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells. In CKD,
decreased EPO production leads to anemia. Renin regulates blood
pressure, calcitriol regulates calcium metabolism, and aldosterone
regulates sodium and potassium balance.
5. A patient with CKD presents with fatigue, pallor, and shortness of
breath. Laboratory results show hemoglobin 8.2 g/dL and
hematocrit 24%. The nurse anticipates which treatment?
A) Blood transfusion of packed red blood cells
B) Administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)
C) Iron supplementation only
D) Folic acid supplementation
Rationale: The anemia of CKD is primarily due to decreased
erythropoietin production. While iron and other nutrients may be
needed, the primary treatment is administration of ESAs (such as
epoetin alfa or darbepoetin) to stimulate red blood cell production.
, Blood transfusion may be reserved for severe or symptomatic anemia
unresponsive to ESAs.
6. Which of the following is the most common cause of chronic
kidney disease in adults?
A) Polycystic kidney disease
B) Glomerulonephritis
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Hypertension
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of CKD and end-
stage renal disease (ESRD) in adults, followed by hypertension.
Diabetic nephropathy results from chronic hyperglycemia causing
damage to the glomerular basement membrane and microvascular
complications.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient with CKD who reports bone pain
and muscle weakness. Which laboratory value is most likely
abnormal?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum potassium
C) Serum calcium
D) Serum magnesium
BANK 2026/2027 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ACCURATE EXAM REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES (RELIABLE ANSWERS) CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION 2026 EDITION |GUARANTEED PASS A+
|FULL REVISED EXAM | JUST RELEASED
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum
potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. The nurse should first:
A) Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B) Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
C) Prepare the patient for hemodialysis
D) Restrict oral fluids to 1,000 mL/day
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K⁺ > 6.5 mEq/L) poses an immediate risk
of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The priority nursing action is
to place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring to detect and
treat dysrhythmias promptly. While Kayexalate, hemodialysis, and
fluid restriction may be indicated, cardiac monitoring is the
immediate priority to ensure patient safety.
2. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the
glomerulus?
A) Reabsorption of water and electrolytes
,B) Secretion of erythropoietin
C) Filtration of blood to form ultrafiltrate
D) Filtration of blood to form ultrafiltrate
Rationale: The glomerulus is a network of capillaries that filters
blood under pressure, allowing water and small solutes to pass into
Bowman's space while retaining proteins and blood cells. This
ultrafiltrate is the first step in urine formation. Reabsorption occurs
primarily in the tubules, and erythropoietin is secreted by interstitial
cells.
3. In CKD staging, a patient with an eGFR of 25 mL/min/1.73 m²
is classified as which stage?
A) Stage 2
B) Stage 3
C) Stage 4
D) Stage 5
Rationale: CKD is staged based on GFR: Stage 1: ≥90, Stage 2: 60-
89, Stage 3: 30-59, Stage 4: 15-29, Stage 5: <15 or dialysis. An eGFR
of 25 mL/min/1.73 m² falls within Stage 4 (15-29), indicating severe
kidney dysfunction and preparation for renal replacement therapy.
4. Which hormone is primarily responsible for stimulating red blood
cell production in patients with chronic kidney disease?
,A) Erythropoietin
B) Renin
C) Calcitriol
D) Aldosterone
Rationale: Erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and
stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells. In CKD,
decreased EPO production leads to anemia. Renin regulates blood
pressure, calcitriol regulates calcium metabolism, and aldosterone
regulates sodium and potassium balance.
5. A patient with CKD presents with fatigue, pallor, and shortness of
breath. Laboratory results show hemoglobin 8.2 g/dL and
hematocrit 24%. The nurse anticipates which treatment?
A) Blood transfusion of packed red blood cells
B) Administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)
C) Iron supplementation only
D) Folic acid supplementation
Rationale: The anemia of CKD is primarily due to decreased
erythropoietin production. While iron and other nutrients may be
needed, the primary treatment is administration of ESAs (such as
epoetin alfa or darbepoetin) to stimulate red blood cell production.
, Blood transfusion may be reserved for severe or symptomatic anemia
unresponsive to ESAs.
6. Which of the following is the most common cause of chronic
kidney disease in adults?
A) Polycystic kidney disease
B) Glomerulonephritis
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Hypertension
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of CKD and end-
stage renal disease (ESRD) in adults, followed by hypertension.
Diabetic nephropathy results from chronic hyperglycemia causing
damage to the glomerular basement membrane and microvascular
complications.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient with CKD who reports bone pain
and muscle weakness. Which laboratory value is most likely
abnormal?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum potassium
C) Serum calcium
D) Serum magnesium
