Certified Nephrology Nurse Certification (CNN) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

The process involved in peritoneal dialysis fundamentally includes the infusion of a dialysis solution into the abdominal cavity. In this type of dialysis, the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity, acts as a natural filter. When the dialysis solution is introduced into this space, it allows waste products and excess fluids to be drawn from the bloodstream into the dialysis solution through osmosis and diffusion.

This method effectively replaces some functions of healthy kidneys by removing toxins and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance. After a dwell time, the solution, now containing waste products, is drained from the abdominal cavity and discarded, allowing for a fresh solution to be infused. The process can be performed manually or utilizing machinery, but at its core, it revolves around the exchange of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

The other options do not accurately describe peritoneal dialysis: filtration through the skin does not relate to this method, direct removal of blood pertains to hemodialysis, and the use of machines for external blood filtering aligns with hemodialysis rather than peritoneal dialysis.