NCCT Hemodialysis Technician 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary function of hemodialysis?
- To oxygenate the blood
- To remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood (Correct answer)
- To regulate blood glucose levels
- To filter bacteria from the bloodstream
Correct answer: To remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood
Hemodialysis filters the blood to remove uremic waste products, excess electrolytes, and fluid that damaged kidneys can no longer eliminate.
Question 2: Which vascular access site is considered the 'gold standard' for long-term hemodialysis?
- Central venous catheter
- Peripherally inserted central catheter
- Arteriovenous fistula (Correct answer)
- Arteriovenous graft
Correct answer: Arteriovenous fistula
An arteriovenous (AV) fistula is preferred because it has the lowest complication rates, longest patency, and best outcomes for long-term dialysis patients.
Question 3: What does the dialysate solution used in hemodialysis typically contain?
- Antibiotics to prevent infection
- Heparin as the primary component
- Glucose and insulin for metabolic support
- Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and bicarbonate
Dialysate is a purified water solution containing electrolytes at physiologic concentrations to facilitate diffusion of waste products out of the blood.
Question 4: What is the typical duration of a standard hemodialysis treatment session?
- 30–60 minutes
- 6–8 hours
- 3–5 hours (Correct answer)
- 1–2 hours
Correct answer: 3–5 hours
Most in-center hemodialysis sessions last 3–5 hours (commonly 4 hours), performed three times per week to achieve adequate solute clearance.
Question 5: Which complication is most commonly observed during hemodialysis treatments?
- Hyperglycemia
- Intradialytic hypotension (Correct answer)
- Respiratory alkalosis
- Hyperkalemia
Correct answer: Intradialytic hypotension
Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is the most common complication, occurring due to rapid fluid removal, vasodilation, or cardiac dysfunction during treatment.
Question 6: The process by which waste solutes move from the blood across the dialyzer membrane into the dialysate is called:
- Osmosis
- Absorption
- Filtration
- Diffusion (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of solutes from an area of higher concentration (blood) to lower concentration (dialysate) across the semipermeable dialyzer membrane.
Question 7: Before initiating a hemodialysis session, which pre-treatment assessment is most essential?
- Verifying the patient's last meal time only
- Confirming patient insurance information
- Checking only the machine's water temperature
- Assessing vascular access patency, blood pressure, and patient weight (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Assessing vascular access patency, blood pressure, and patient weight
Pre-treatment assessment must confirm access patency (thrill/bruit), baseline blood pressure, and current weight to calculate the ultrafiltration goal for the session.
NCCT Hemodialysis Technician 1
What is the primary function of hemodialysis?