CDN Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CDN exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CDN Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CDN Topics to Study (33)
✍️ Sample CDN Questions & Answers
1. Which erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) is most commonly used to treat anemia of chronic kidney disease in dialysis patients?
Epoetin alfa is the most widely used ESA for dialysis-associated anemia, stimulating bone marrow production of red blood cells.
2. During hemodialysis, the blood pump stops and blood is observed to be dark in the arterial line. What is the most likely cause?
Dark, de-oxygenated blood backing up in the arterial line suggests the arterial needle has clotted or dislodged, severely limiting blood flow.
3. What interdialytic weight gain is generally considered the maximum acceptable limit for a hemodialysis patient?
Interdialytic weight gain up to 3–5% of dry body weight is generally considered acceptable, though lower gains are associated with better outcomes.
4. IV iron supplementation is indicated in dialysis patients when ferritin is below what threshold despite ESA therapy?
IV iron is commonly indicated when serum ferritin is below 200 ng/mL or transferrin saturation is below 20%, suggesting functional iron deficiency limiting ESA response.
5. What is the most common cause of ESA hyporesponsiveness (failure to achieve target hemoglobin despite adequate ESA doses) in dialysis patients?
Iron deficiency is by far the most frequent cause of ESA hyporesponsiveness because adequate iron supply is essential for the bone marrow to respond to ESA stimulation and synthesize hemoglobin.
6. What is the rationale for timing the administration of intravenous antibiotics in hemodialysis patients?
Many antibiotics are dialyzable, so post-dialysis dosing prevents drug removal and ensures therapeutic blood levels persist until the next session.