Certified Hemodialysis Technician Flashcards
7 cards from real CHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Certified Hemodialysis Technician flashcards as text
During hemodialysis, the venous pressure alarm goes high and the blood pump stops. The first action the technician should take is:
Answer: Clamp the venous line and check for kinks or occlusion
A high venous pressure alarm indicates downstream resistance; clamping and inspecting the venous line for kinks or clotted segments is the correct initial response.
The process of ultrafiltration during hemodialysis is driven primarily by:
Answer: Hydrostatic transmembrane pressure
Ultrafiltration (fluid removal) is driven by transmembrane pressure, the hydrostatic pressure difference between the blood and dialysate compartments across the membrane.
A technician notices the dialysate conductivity reading is consistently 12.5 mS/cm instead of the target of 14.0 mS/cm. The most likely cause is:
Answer: Bicarbonate concentrate is depleted or supply line is kinked
Low conductivity typically results from insufficient concentrate delivery; a depleted or blocked bicarbonate supply line reduces the total ionic content of the dialysate.
Heparin is administered during hemodialysis primarily to prevent:
Answer: Clotting of blood in the extracorporeal circuit
Heparin anticoagulates the blood as it passes through the extracorporeal circuit to prevent clot formation in the dialyzer fibers and blood tubing.
Which of the following is the correct procedure when an air detector alarm sounds during hemodialysis?
Answer: Clamp the venous line immediately and stop the blood pump
When an air detector alarm triggers, the venous line must be clamped immediately and the blood pump stopped to prevent air embolism from reaching the patient.
A patient with a tunneled cuffed catheter has blood flow rates consistently below 250 mL/min despite repositioning. The most appropriate next step is:
Answer: Notify the charge nurse or physician of suspected catheter malfunction
Persistent low flow rates despite repositioning suggest catheter dysfunction (fibrin sheath or thrombus) that requires physician evaluation and possible intervention.
The term 'interdialytic weight gain' refers to fluid accumulated between treatments, and a typical acceptable limit per treatment interval is:
Answer: 2.0–5.0 kg
Most centers target an interdialytic weight gain of 2–5 kg (roughly 1 kg per day) as the acceptable range for thrice-weekly patients.