CERTIFIED CLINICAL HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN REVIEW
1) Functional unit of the kidney - ANSWER The structure in the kidney that does the work is the
nephron.
2) Nephron composition - ANSWER A nephron is made up of a glomerulus and a tubule.
3) Endocrine functions of the kidney - ANSWER The endocrine functions of the kidney include
making erythropoietin and the active form of vitamin D.
4) Leading cause of End-Stage Renal Disease - ANSWER The leading cause of End-Stage Renal
Disease for adults in the United States is diabetes.
5) Itching in kidney failure - ANSWER Patients with kidney failure often complain of itching, likely
caused by hyperphosphatemia.
6) Bone disease in kidney patients - ANSWER Kidney patients often have bone disease because
kidneys stop producing calcitriol.
7) Symptoms needing more dialysis - ANSWER Symptoms that a patient may need more dialysis
time include anorexia, fatigue, and swelling.
8) Semipermeable membrane - ANSWER A semipermeable membrane is a porous barrier that
allows for only certain sized particles to cross.
9) Diffusion - ANSWER Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration.
10) Negative pressure - ANSWER Negative pressure is created when fluid is pulled through a
restriction.
11) Ultrafiltration during Dialysis - ANSWER Ultrafiltration occurs when water is removed from blood
because there is a pressure gradient between blood and dialysate.
,12) Negative pressure in extracorporeal circuit - ANSWER The blood is usually under negative
pressure in the venous chamber.
13) Increasing solute diffusion - ANSWER High concentration gradients will increase the amount of
solutes that will diffuse across the semipermeable membrane.
14) Dialysate treatment components affecting clearance - ANSWER The components of the dialysate
treatment that affect clearance include dialysate flow, time of treatment, dialyzer size, and blood
flow rate.
15) Dialyzer waste removal factors - ANSWER Two things that affect the dialyzer's ability to remove
wastes from the body include surface area and molecular weight cutoff.
16) Dialysate composition - ANSWER Dialysate is the fluid that helps remove waste products from
the body and may contain bicarbonate, sodium, and potassium.
17) Safety monitor during dialysis - ANSWER The most important safety monitor during a dialysis
treatment is not specified in the notes.
18) Venous chamber - ANSWER The venous line section after the venous chamber
19) Diffusion across semipermeable membrane - ANSWER Increased by high concentration gradients
20) Dialysate - ANSWER The fluid that helps remove waste products from the body, containing
substances like Bicarbonate, Sodium, Potassium
21) Safety monitor during dialysis treatment - ANSWER The prepump pressure alarm
22) Dialysate conductivity - ANSWER Measures the total electrical charge of a solution
, 23) Hypernatremia effects - ANSWER Can cause headaches, high blood pressure, and shriveling of
red blood cells
24) Excess calcium in dialysate - ANSWER Can cause irregular heartbeat and severe muscle weakness
25) Too little sodium in dialysate - ANSWER Can cause numbness, seizures, and muscle pain
26) Dialysis treatment adequacy - ANSWER Linked to patient outcomes; affected by time on
treatment, blood and dialysate flow rates, and dialyzer clotting
27) Normal body temperature - ANSWER 98.6°F when taken orally
28) Blood pressure measuring instrument - ANSWER Sphygmomanometer
29) Rapid pulse indication - ANSWER A pulse of 104 beats/min indicates tachycardia
30) Seizures during dialysis causes - ANSWER Can be caused by electrolyte imbalance, hypotension,
sudden decrease in dialyzer clearance, and dialysate composition errors
31) Normal resting pulse rate range - ANSWER 60 to 100 beats/min in adults
32) Increased venous pressure causes - ANSWER Can be caused by a clot in the arterial chamber, line
separation after the dialyzer, venous needle infiltration, or collapsing of the arterial bloodline
33) Transmembrane pressure changes - ANSWER Indicates potential clotting in the dialyzer
34) Dialyzer Rinsing - ANSWER The first action you should take is to rinse the dialyzer with normal
saline.
1) Functional unit of the kidney - ANSWER The structure in the kidney that does the work is the
nephron.
2) Nephron composition - ANSWER A nephron is made up of a glomerulus and a tubule.
3) Endocrine functions of the kidney - ANSWER The endocrine functions of the kidney include
making erythropoietin and the active form of vitamin D.
4) Leading cause of End-Stage Renal Disease - ANSWER The leading cause of End-Stage Renal
Disease for adults in the United States is diabetes.
5) Itching in kidney failure - ANSWER Patients with kidney failure often complain of itching, likely
caused by hyperphosphatemia.
6) Bone disease in kidney patients - ANSWER Kidney patients often have bone disease because
kidneys stop producing calcitriol.
7) Symptoms needing more dialysis - ANSWER Symptoms that a patient may need more dialysis
time include anorexia, fatigue, and swelling.
8) Semipermeable membrane - ANSWER A semipermeable membrane is a porous barrier that
allows for only certain sized particles to cross.
9) Diffusion - ANSWER Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration.
10) Negative pressure - ANSWER Negative pressure is created when fluid is pulled through a
restriction.
11) Ultrafiltration during Dialysis - ANSWER Ultrafiltration occurs when water is removed from blood
because there is a pressure gradient between blood and dialysate.
,12) Negative pressure in extracorporeal circuit - ANSWER The blood is usually under negative
pressure in the venous chamber.
13) Increasing solute diffusion - ANSWER High concentration gradients will increase the amount of
solutes that will diffuse across the semipermeable membrane.
14) Dialysate treatment components affecting clearance - ANSWER The components of the dialysate
treatment that affect clearance include dialysate flow, time of treatment, dialyzer size, and blood
flow rate.
15) Dialyzer waste removal factors - ANSWER Two things that affect the dialyzer's ability to remove
wastes from the body include surface area and molecular weight cutoff.
16) Dialysate composition - ANSWER Dialysate is the fluid that helps remove waste products from
the body and may contain bicarbonate, sodium, and potassium.
17) Safety monitor during dialysis - ANSWER The most important safety monitor during a dialysis
treatment is not specified in the notes.
18) Venous chamber - ANSWER The venous line section after the venous chamber
19) Diffusion across semipermeable membrane - ANSWER Increased by high concentration gradients
20) Dialysate - ANSWER The fluid that helps remove waste products from the body, containing
substances like Bicarbonate, Sodium, Potassium
21) Safety monitor during dialysis treatment - ANSWER The prepump pressure alarm
22) Dialysate conductivity - ANSWER Measures the total electrical charge of a solution
, 23) Hypernatremia effects - ANSWER Can cause headaches, high blood pressure, and shriveling of
red blood cells
24) Excess calcium in dialysate - ANSWER Can cause irregular heartbeat and severe muscle weakness
25) Too little sodium in dialysate - ANSWER Can cause numbness, seizures, and muscle pain
26) Dialysis treatment adequacy - ANSWER Linked to patient outcomes; affected by time on
treatment, blood and dialysate flow rates, and dialyzer clotting
27) Normal body temperature - ANSWER 98.6°F when taken orally
28) Blood pressure measuring instrument - ANSWER Sphygmomanometer
29) Rapid pulse indication - ANSWER A pulse of 104 beats/min indicates tachycardia
30) Seizures during dialysis causes - ANSWER Can be caused by electrolyte imbalance, hypotension,
sudden decrease in dialyzer clearance, and dialysate composition errors
31) Normal resting pulse rate range - ANSWER 60 to 100 beats/min in adults
32) Increased venous pressure causes - ANSWER Can be caused by a clot in the arterial chamber, line
separation after the dialyzer, venous needle infiltration, or collapsing of the arterial bloodline
33) Transmembrane pressure changes - ANSWER Indicates potential clotting in the dialyzer
34) Dialyzer Rinsing - ANSWER The first action you should take is to rinse the dialyzer with normal
saline.
