Page 1 of 59
CERTIFIED DIALYSIS NURSE (CDN) EXAM PREP 2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED 100 %
Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) Exam — Questions with Rationales
1. Which structure is primarily responsible for maintaining the glomerular filtration
barrier's selective permeability?
A) Podocytes
B) Mesangial cells
C) Macula densa
D) Juxtaglomerular cells
Rationale: Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells that wrap around glomerular
capillaries and form filtration slits, which are essential for selective permeability and
preventing the passage of large molecules like proteins.
2. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of chronic kidney
disease (CKD)?
A) Irreversible loss of nephrons leading to progressive decline in glomerular filtration
rate
B) Acute inflammation of the glomerulus
C) Reversible tubular injury
D) Obstruction of the urinary tract
Rationale: CKD is characterized by the irreversible loss of nephrons and progressive
decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) over months to years.
, Page 2 of 59
3. A patient with CKD has a hemoglobin of 8.5 g/dL. Which is the most likely cause
of anemia in this patient?
A) Iron deficiency
B) Decreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
C) Hemolysis
D) Bone marrow suppression
Rationale: Anemia in CKD is primarily caused by decreased erythropoietin production
by the failing kidneys, which impairs red blood cell production.
4. Which of the following laboratory findings is most consistent with acute kidney
injury (AKI)?
A) Gradual increase in creatinine over 6 months
B) Abrupt increase in serum creatinine and decrease in urine output
C) Normal BUN and creatinine
D) Hyperkalemia with metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: AKI is characterized by an abrupt decline in GFR, leading to a rapid increase
in serum creatinine and decreased urine output.
5. Which of the following is a prerenal cause of AKI?
A) Acute tubular necrosis
B) Glomerulonephritis
C) Hypovolemia due to hemorrhage
D) Nephrotoxic drugs
Rationale: Prerenal AKI results from decreased renal perfusion, often due to
hypovolemia, hemorrhage, or heart failure, without intrinsic renal damage.
, Page 3 of 59
6. Which of the following is an intrarenal cause of AKI?
A) Hypovolemia
B) Renal artery stenosis
C) Acute tubular necrosis
D) Urinary tract obstruction
Rationale: Intrarenal AKI results from damage to the kidney itself, such as acute tubular
necrosis (ATN).
7. Which of the following is a postrenal cause of AKI?
A) Acute tubular necrosis
B) Glomerulonephritis
C) Urinary tract obstruction
D) Hypovolemia
Rationale: Postrenal AKI results from obstruction of urine flow, such as from kidney
stones or an enlarged prostate.
8. What is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease?
A) Glomerulonephritis
B) Diabetes mellitus
C) Hypertension
D) Polycystic kidney disease
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the leading causes of CKD, with
diabetes being the most common cause worldwide.
9. A patient with CKD has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following
is the priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer oral potassium binders
B) Restrict dietary potassium
, Page 4 of 59
C) Obtain a 12-lead ECG and notify the provider immediately
D) Administer IV calcium gluconate
Rationale: Hyperkalemia is life-threatening and can cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
Obtaining an ECG and notifying the provider is the immediate priority.
10. Which of the following is a classic sign of uremia in a patient with CKD?
A) Asterixis
B) Bradypnea
C) Hypertension
D) Weight loss
Rationale: Asterixis (flapping tremor) is a classic sign of uremic encephalopathy in
patients with advanced CKD.
11. Which of the following is a metabolic complication of CKD?
A) Metabolic alkalosis
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: CKD leads to metabolic acidosis due to impaired renal excretion of hydrogen
ions and decreased bicarbonate reabsorption.
12. What is the primary function of the kidney in acid-base balance?
A) Excretion of hydrogen ions and reabsorption of bicarbonate
B) Excretion of bicarbonate and reabsorption of hydrogen ions
C) Production of carbon dioxide
D) Regulation of oxygen levels
Rationale: The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions and
reabsorbing bicarbonate.
CERTIFIED DIALYSIS NURSE (CDN) EXAM PREP 2026 SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED 100 %
Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) Exam — Questions with Rationales
1. Which structure is primarily responsible for maintaining the glomerular filtration
barrier's selective permeability?
A) Podocytes
B) Mesangial cells
C) Macula densa
D) Juxtaglomerular cells
Rationale: Podocytes are specialized epithelial cells that wrap around glomerular
capillaries and form filtration slits, which are essential for selective permeability and
preventing the passage of large molecules like proteins.
2. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of chronic kidney
disease (CKD)?
A) Irreversible loss of nephrons leading to progressive decline in glomerular filtration
rate
B) Acute inflammation of the glomerulus
C) Reversible tubular injury
D) Obstruction of the urinary tract
Rationale: CKD is characterized by the irreversible loss of nephrons and progressive
decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) over months to years.
, Page 2 of 59
3. A patient with CKD has a hemoglobin of 8.5 g/dL. Which is the most likely cause
of anemia in this patient?
A) Iron deficiency
B) Decreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
C) Hemolysis
D) Bone marrow suppression
Rationale: Anemia in CKD is primarily caused by decreased erythropoietin production
by the failing kidneys, which impairs red blood cell production.
4. Which of the following laboratory findings is most consistent with acute kidney
injury (AKI)?
A) Gradual increase in creatinine over 6 months
B) Abrupt increase in serum creatinine and decrease in urine output
C) Normal BUN and creatinine
D) Hyperkalemia with metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: AKI is characterized by an abrupt decline in GFR, leading to a rapid increase
in serum creatinine and decreased urine output.
5. Which of the following is a prerenal cause of AKI?
A) Acute tubular necrosis
B) Glomerulonephritis
C) Hypovolemia due to hemorrhage
D) Nephrotoxic drugs
Rationale: Prerenal AKI results from decreased renal perfusion, often due to
hypovolemia, hemorrhage, or heart failure, without intrinsic renal damage.
, Page 3 of 59
6. Which of the following is an intrarenal cause of AKI?
A) Hypovolemia
B) Renal artery stenosis
C) Acute tubular necrosis
D) Urinary tract obstruction
Rationale: Intrarenal AKI results from damage to the kidney itself, such as acute tubular
necrosis (ATN).
7. Which of the following is a postrenal cause of AKI?
A) Acute tubular necrosis
B) Glomerulonephritis
C) Urinary tract obstruction
D) Hypovolemia
Rationale: Postrenal AKI results from obstruction of urine flow, such as from kidney
stones or an enlarged prostate.
8. What is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease?
A) Glomerulonephritis
B) Diabetes mellitus
C) Hypertension
D) Polycystic kidney disease
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the leading causes of CKD, with
diabetes being the most common cause worldwide.
9. A patient with CKD has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following
is the priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer oral potassium binders
B) Restrict dietary potassium
, Page 4 of 59
C) Obtain a 12-lead ECG and notify the provider immediately
D) Administer IV calcium gluconate
Rationale: Hyperkalemia is life-threatening and can cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
Obtaining an ECG and notifying the provider is the immediate priority.
10. Which of the following is a classic sign of uremia in a patient with CKD?
A) Asterixis
B) Bradypnea
C) Hypertension
D) Weight loss
Rationale: Asterixis (flapping tremor) is a classic sign of uremic encephalopathy in
patients with advanced CKD.
11. Which of the following is a metabolic complication of CKD?
A) Metabolic alkalosis
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: CKD leads to metabolic acidosis due to impaired renal excretion of hydrogen
ions and decreased bicarbonate reabsorption.
12. What is the primary function of the kidney in acid-base balance?
A) Excretion of hydrogen ions and reabsorption of bicarbonate
B) Excretion of bicarbonate and reabsorption of hydrogen ions
C) Production of carbon dioxide
D) Regulation of oxygen levels
Rationale: The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions and
reabsorbing bicarbonate.
