CDN Patient Education and Quality of Care in Dialysis 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which element of dialysis patient education is most critical for preventing life-threatening complications between sessions?
- Understanding dialyzer membrane types
- Dietary and fluid restriction adherence (Correct answer)
- Knowledge of dialysis machine alarms
- Understanding anticoagulation mechanisms
Correct answer: Dietary and fluid restriction adherence
Adherence to potassium, phosphorus, and fluid restrictions between sessions directly prevents the most common life-threatening complications such as hyperkalemia and pulmonary edema.
Question 2: A dialysis nurse notices a patient consistently missing treatments. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
- Document the absences and wait for the physician to address it
- Conduct a non-judgmental assessment to identify barriers to attendance (Correct answer)
- Inform the patient that missed treatments will result in discharge
- Refer immediately to social work without speaking to the patient
Correct answer: Conduct a non-judgmental assessment to identify barriers to attendance
A non-judgmental assessment helps identify and address practical or psychosocial barriers to treatment adherence, which is the first step in patient-centered care.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of including the patient in developing their interdialytic weight gain goal?
- To reduce nursing documentation burden
- To improve adherence through shared decision-making (Correct answer)
- To eliminate the need for physician oversight
- To comply with CMS billing requirements
Correct answer: To improve adherence through shared decision-making
Shared decision-making in setting weight gain goals improves patient engagement and adherence because patients who participate in their care plan are more likely to follow it.
Question 4: A dialysis patient reports following their diet strictly but their potassium remains elevated. What assessment should the nurse prioritize?
- Order a repeat potassium level
- Review a detailed 3-day food diary with the patient (Correct answer)
- Assume non-compliance and counsel the patient
- Increase dialysis treatment time
Correct answer: Review a detailed 3-day food diary with the patient
A detailed food diary review can uncover hidden dietary potassium sources the patient may not recognize, enabling targeted and effective nutritional counseling.
Question 5: Which modality of kidney replacement therapy offers the most independence and the ability to work or travel for suitable patients?
- In-center hemodialysis three times per week
- Home peritoneal dialysis (CAPD or APD) (Correct answer)
- Home hemodialysis
- Nocturnal in-center hemodialysis
Correct answer: Home peritoneal dialysis (CAPD or APD)
Peritoneal dialysis allows patients to perform dialysis at home or while traveling on their own schedule, supporting greater independence and quality of life.
Question 6: Which psychosocial factor is most strongly associated with mortality in dialysis patients?
- Financial concerns
- Depression (Correct answer)
- Social isolation
- Sleep disorders
Correct answer: Depression
Depression is highly prevalent in dialysis patients and is independently associated with increased mortality, hospitalizations, and treatment non-adherence.
CDN Patient Education and Quality of Care in Dialysis 1
Which element of dialysis patient education is most critical for preventing life-threatening complications between sessions?