Certified Hemodialysis Technician Practice Exam

Patients who are experiencing severe hemodynamic instability or who have certain terminal illnesses are typically not candidates for hemodialysis due to the risks associated with the procedure. Hemodialysis requires a stable condition to ensure that the patient's body can tolerate the treatment, which involves removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood. If a patient is severely unstable, they may not be able to handle the changes in blood pressure and fluid shifts that occur during dialysis, potentially leading to serious complications.

Additionally, certain terminal illnesses can significantly diminish a patient's overall prognosis and quality of life, making the benefits of hemodialysis questionable. In such cases, the focus may shift from prolonging life to providing comfort, rather than subjecting the patient to a procedure that might not improve their overall condition or may even exacerbate their symptoms.

Other patients mentioned, such as those with diabetes, hypertension, or those undergoing chemotherapy, may require hemodialysis at some point due to complications arising from their conditions. However, being a diabetic or hypertensive, or even undergoing chemotherapy, does not inherently exclude a patient from being a candidate for hemodialysis. Instead, their medical management can be adjusted to accommodate dialysis treatment.