Manitoba Nephrology Nurse Practice Test

Dialysis is best defined as a treatment that removes waste from the blood. This process is crucial for individuals whose kidneys can no longer perform their essential functions, particularly the excretion of waste products and excess fluid. Dialysis helps to maintain the body’s chemical balance by filtering out waste substances, toxins, and excess minerals that accumulate in the blood due to impaired kidney function.

The two main types of dialysis—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis—each function to provide this vital cleanup service for patients. Hemodialysis uses a machine and a dialyzer (artificial kidney) to filter blood outside the body, while peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdominal cavity as a natural filter. In both methods, the primary goal is to mimic some functions of healthy kidneys by effectively removing waste and maintaining homeostasis.

Understanding this definition is critical in nephrology nursing, as it underscores the role of dialysis in supporting patients with chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury, helping them manage their condition and improve their quality of life.