CHT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CHT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. During hemodialysis, which clinical presentation is most characteristic of an air embolism? → Sudden hypotension, dyspnea, cyanosis, and a mill-wheel cardiac murmur
2. What is the generally recommended maximum ultrafiltration rate to reduce the risk of intradialytic hypotension? → Less than 13 mL/kg/hour
3. Cinacalcet (Sensipar) is used in dialysis patients to treat which condition? → Secondary hyperparathyroidism
4. Which medication is commonly used to treat hypotension during hemodialysis? → Midodrine
5. Proper labeling of a reprocessed dialyzer must include: → Patient name, patient ID, number of uses, and date of reprocessing
6. How often should total chlorine be tested in the water treatment system during a dialysis treatment day? → At the beginning of each treatment day
7. What is the recommended dialysate temperature range for standard hemodialysis? → 36–38°C
8. An AV fistula thrill that is absent on palpation and a bruit that is absent on auscultation most likely indicates: → Access thrombosis
9. During priming of the extracorporeal circuit, approximately how much saline is typically used? → 300–500 mL
10. Which pre-dialysis physical assessment finding is most consistent with fluid overload in a hemodialysis patient? → Bilateral pitting edema of the lower extremities and shortness of breath
11. Patient safety reporting systems in dialysis facilities are most effective when they use: → Non-punitive, anonymous reporting to encourage near-miss and error disclosure
12. What is the purpose of the softener in a dialysis water treatment system? → Removes calcium and magnesium ions
13. Which conductivity value would most likely trigger the dialysate bypass alarm? → 10.0 mS/cm
14. IV iron administration during hemodialysis is timed to coincide with: → The first 30 minutes of treatment
15. What does a consistently falling pre-dialysis BUN suggest about a patient's dialysis prescription or status? → The patient may have decreased protein intake or increased residual renal function
16. What is the acceptable pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure range that typically allows hemodialysis treatment to proceed without intervention? → 90–180 mmHg
17. The reverse osmosis (RO) unit in water treatment works primarily by: → Forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure
18. Most patients receiving in-center hemodialysis have a hydration restriction equivalent to urine volume/day plus: → 1 L
19. What minimum water-to-concentrate ratio is used by most proportioning hemodialysis machines? → 34:1
20. A patient develops muscle cramps during hemodialysis. What is the most likely underlying cause? → Rapid or excessive fluid removal causing hypovolemia and reduced muscle perfusion
21. Which AAMI document provides the most current standards for water quality in hemodialysis? → AAMI RD62
22. A tunneled dialysis catheter is locked with which solution between dialysis sessions to maintain patency? → Heparin or citrate locking solution
23. Reuse of dialyzers in the United States is regulated by which federal agency? → CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) via Conditions for Coverage
24. Which water treatment component is primarily responsible for removing chlorine and chloramines from dialysis water? → Activated carbon tank
25. During routine hemodialysis, how frequently should vital signs be monitored at a minimum to meet standard practice requirements? → Every 30 minutes throughout the entire treatment
26. Which complication is characterized by swelling of the entire arm on the side of an AV access? → Central venous stenosis
27. A blood leak test on a reprocessed dialyzer involves: → Applying pressure to the blood compartment and checking for leaks into the dialysate side
28. What is the most probable reason for post-renal failure? → benign prostatic hypertrophy
29. Which hand hygiene product is NOT effective against Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) spores? → Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
30. When dialyzing a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis, which additional precaution is required beyond standard precautions? → Airborne precautions with N95 respirator and negative-pressure room if available