Which statement about hemodialysis indicates a need for further education?

• A. Hemodialysis will restore kidney function to normal.
• B. Hemodialysis removes wastes and fluids but does not cure the kidney.
• C. Hemodialysis is only temporary and will be stopped soon.
• D. Hemodialysis requires no vascular access.

Answer: (D)

Hemodialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that relies on direct access to the bloodstream to remove wastes and extra fluids. That access is usually provided by a surgically created arteriovenous fistula or graft, or a central venous catheter, through which blood is brought to the dialysis machine and then returned to the body. Because you must repeatedly access the blood for treatment, having vascular access is essential.

The statement indicating a need for further education is the claim that no vascular access is required. This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how hemodialysis works—the machine cannot function without a reliable channel to draw and return blood.

Other points are more accurate: dialysis removes wastes and fluids but is not a cure for kidney disease; it does not restore normal kidney function. In some scenarios, dialysis may be temporary (as in acute kidney injury) but in chronic kidney disease it is typically ongoing.