CERTIFIED DIALYSIS NURSE (CDN) EXAMINATION
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
1.
A hemodialysis patient develops severe muscle cramps and hypotension during
treatment. Which intervention should the nurse perform first?
A. Increase the ultrafiltration rate
B. Place the patient supine and assess blood pressure
C. Administer the prescribed antihypertensive medication
D. Encourage the patient to ambulate
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypotension associated with excessive fluid removal can cause muscle
cramps and requires immediate positioning, assessment, and evaluation of
ultrafiltration.
2.
Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention in a patient with an
arteriovenous fistula?
A. Palpable thrill
B. Audible bruit
,C. Warm hand with normal capillary refill
D. Absence of a palpable thrill
Answer: D
Rationale: Loss of the thrill may indicate thrombosis or access dysfunction,
requiring prompt evaluation to preserve vascular access.
3.
Which action is appropriate when assessing an arteriovenous fistula before
dialysis?
A. Apply a blood pressure cuff over the access
B. Palpate for a thrill and auscultate for a bruit
C. Insert an intravenous catheter near the access
D. Apply prolonged pressure directly over the access
Answer: B
Rationale: A functioning fistula normally produces a palpable thrill and audible
bruit, indicating blood flow through the access.
4.
A patient receiving hemodialysis reports chest pain and shortness of breath. What
should the nurse do first?
,A. Continue treatment without interruption
B. Assess the patient immediately and obtain vital signs
C. Increase ultrafiltration
D. Encourage oral fluid intake
Answer: B
Rationale: New chest pain and dyspnea may indicate a serious cardiovascular or
pulmonary complication requiring immediate assessment and intervention.
5.
Which finding most strongly suggests infection at a tunneled dialysis catheter
site?
A. Dry intact dressing
B. Mild itching immediately after dressing application
C. Purulent drainage with surrounding erythema
D. Visible catheter without drainage
Answer: C
Rationale: Purulent drainage and erythema are classic local indicators of infection
and require prompt assessment and treatment.
6.
Why should the dialysis nurse monitor pre- and post-dialysis weights?
, A. To determine the patient's height
B. To estimate fluid removal and evaluate fluid balance
C. To determine the patient's blood type
D. To calculate medication allergies
Answer: B
Rationale: Weight changes between treatments provide an important estimate of
interdialytic fluid accumulation and guide ultrafiltration planning.
7.
A patient's prescribed dry weight is 70 kg, and the predialysis weight is 73 kg.
Approximately how much excess fluid does the patient have?
A. 0.3 L
B. 1 L
C. 3 L
D. 7 L
Answer: C
Rationale: Assuming approximately one kilogram represents one liter of fluid, the
patient is approximately three liters above prescribed dry weight.
8.
Which electrolyte abnormality is particularly important to monitor in patients
with advanced kidney failure?
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
1.
A hemodialysis patient develops severe muscle cramps and hypotension during
treatment. Which intervention should the nurse perform first?
A. Increase the ultrafiltration rate
B. Place the patient supine and assess blood pressure
C. Administer the prescribed antihypertensive medication
D. Encourage the patient to ambulate
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypotension associated with excessive fluid removal can cause muscle
cramps and requires immediate positioning, assessment, and evaluation of
ultrafiltration.
2.
Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention in a patient with an
arteriovenous fistula?
A. Palpable thrill
B. Audible bruit
,C. Warm hand with normal capillary refill
D. Absence of a palpable thrill
Answer: D
Rationale: Loss of the thrill may indicate thrombosis or access dysfunction,
requiring prompt evaluation to preserve vascular access.
3.
Which action is appropriate when assessing an arteriovenous fistula before
dialysis?
A. Apply a blood pressure cuff over the access
B. Palpate for a thrill and auscultate for a bruit
C. Insert an intravenous catheter near the access
D. Apply prolonged pressure directly over the access
Answer: B
Rationale: A functioning fistula normally produces a palpable thrill and audible
bruit, indicating blood flow through the access.
4.
A patient receiving hemodialysis reports chest pain and shortness of breath. What
should the nurse do first?
,A. Continue treatment without interruption
B. Assess the patient immediately and obtain vital signs
C. Increase ultrafiltration
D. Encourage oral fluid intake
Answer: B
Rationale: New chest pain and dyspnea may indicate a serious cardiovascular or
pulmonary complication requiring immediate assessment and intervention.
5.
Which finding most strongly suggests infection at a tunneled dialysis catheter
site?
A. Dry intact dressing
B. Mild itching immediately after dressing application
C. Purulent drainage with surrounding erythema
D. Visible catheter without drainage
Answer: C
Rationale: Purulent drainage and erythema are classic local indicators of infection
and require prompt assessment and treatment.
6.
Why should the dialysis nurse monitor pre- and post-dialysis weights?
, A. To determine the patient's height
B. To estimate fluid removal and evaluate fluid balance
C. To determine the patient's blood type
D. To calculate medication allergies
Answer: B
Rationale: Weight changes between treatments provide an important estimate of
interdialytic fluid accumulation and guide ultrafiltration planning.
7.
A patient's prescribed dry weight is 70 kg, and the predialysis weight is 73 kg.
Approximately how much excess fluid does the patient have?
A. 0.3 L
B. 1 L
C. 3 L
D. 7 L
Answer: C
Rationale: Assuming approximately one kilogram represents one liter of fluid, the
patient is approximately three liters above prescribed dry weight.
8.
Which electrolyte abnormality is particularly important to monitor in patients
with advanced kidney failure?
