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 primary reason for using bicarbonate-based rather than acetate-based dialysate in modern hemodialysis? → Better hemodynamic tolerance and fewer side effects with bicarbonate
3. What is the generally recommended maximum ultrafiltration rate to reduce the risk of intradialytic hypotension? → Less than 13 mL/kg/hour
4. Cinacalcet (Sensipar) is used in dialysis patients to treat which condition? → Secondary hyperparathyroidism
5. Which medication is commonly used to treat hypotension during hemodialysis? → Midodrine
6. Proper labeling of a reprocessed dialyzer must include: → Patient name, patient ID, number of uses, and date of reprocessing
7. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that hemodialysis technicians use which type of precautions with all patients? → Standard (Universal) Precautions with all patients
8. How often should total chlorine be tested in the water treatment system during a dialysis treatment day? → At the beginning of each treatment day
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is most immediately life-threatening during dialysis if not corrected? → Hyperkalemia
10. What is the purpose of the 'negative pressure' test performed on a dialysis machine? → Verify ultrafiltration rate accuracy
11. What is the recommended dialysate temperature range for standard hemodialysis? → 36–38°C
12. An AV fistula thrill that is absent on palpation and a bruit that is absent on auscultation most likely indicates: → Access thrombosis
13. During priming of the extracorporeal circuit, approximately how much saline is typically used? → 300–500 mL
14. 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
15. Patient safety reporting systems in dialysis facilities are most effective when they use: → Non-punitive, anonymous reporting to encourage near-miss and error disclosure
16. When disconnecting a patient at the end of hemodialysis, the blood is returned to the patient using: → Normal saline rinse-back through the arterial line
17. What is the purpose of the softener in a dialysis water treatment system? → Removes calcium and magnesium ions
18. A patient develops pink-tinged blood in the dialysate effluent during treatment. This MOST LIKELY indicates: → Blood leak through a ruptured membrane
19. Which conductivity value would most likely trigger the dialysate bypass alarm? → 10.0 mS/cm
20. The term 'interdialytic weight gain' refers to fluid accumulated between treatments, and a typical acceptable limit per treatment interval is: → 2.0–5.0 kg
21. IV iron administration during hemodialysis is timed to coincide with: → The first 30 minutes of treatment
22. 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
23. What is the acceptable pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure range that typically allows hemodialysis treatment to proceed without intervention? → 90–180 mmHg
24. The reverse osmosis (RO) unit in water treatment works primarily by: → Forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure
25. Most patients receiving in-center hemodialysis have a hydration restriction equivalent to urine volume/day plus: → 1 L
26. A patient with a tunneled cuffed catheter has blood flow rates consistently below 250 mL/min despite repositioning. The most appropriate next step is: → Notify the charge nurse or physician of suspected catheter malfunction
27. What minimum water-to-concentrate ratio is used by most proportioning hemodialysis machines? → 34:1
28. 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
29. When priming a dialyzer with saline, the correct direction of flow through the blood compartment is: → Arterial port to venous port (bottom to top)
30. Which AAMI document provides the most current standards for water quality in hemodialysis? → AAMI RD62