NCLEX-RN Hemodialysis vs Peritoneal Dialysis Cheat Sheet (Free Printable)

Renal replacement therapy shows up on the NCLEX-RN because it forces you to keep two modalities straight at once: hemodialysis, where blood is pumped through a dialyzer with two fluid compartments, and peritoneal dialysis, where the peritoneum is the body's own membrane. This cheat sheet lines them up side by side across four color-coded tabs - how it works, access, regimens, and complications - so you can match every fact to HD or PD.

The numbers are exam favorites: 3 to 5 hours three times a week for most HD patients, a 2-week wait between PD catheter implantation and first use, 4-hour daytime dwells on CAPD, and a 65 percent or greater BUN drop that signals an adequate HD session. Three pearls round it out: the double-bag technique of draining the abdomen before infusing fresh dialysate, why PD is generally preferred for infants and young children, and how flushing the infusion set before filling cuts peritonitis rates. Study one tab at a time, recite the mnemonics until they stick, then quiz yourself on matching each red flag to the right modality. Values are representative - always follow your facility protocol and provider orders.

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Representative values from the cited sources; dialysis prescriptions and hold times vary by patient - always follow your facility protocol and provider orders.

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