Hemodialysis education: which statement indicates a need for further education?

• A. Hemodialysis will help restore kidney function back to a normal level.
• B. Hemodialysis removes waste accumulation in the blood. It replaces a function of the kidney, it does not cure the kidney.
• C. Bowel or bladder perforation may occur with hemodialysis catheter placement.
• D. This is a serious complication associated with peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that hemodialysis is a supportive therapy that replaces some kidney functions but does not cure kidney disease or restore normal kidney function. Hemodialysis cleans the blood by removing waste and excess fluids, helping maintain electrolyte balance, but it does not bring the kidneys back to normal function. That misconception—expecting normal kidney function to return with dialysis—is why the statement indicating a need for further education is best. The other points reflect accurate aspects of dialysis or related PD risks: dialysis removes waste without curing the disease, and PD has its own specific complications, though bowel perforation is more typically associated with PD catheter placement rather than a routine hemodialysis catheter.