Certified Dialysis Nurse Practice Test 2025 - Free Dialysis Nurse Practice Questions and Study Guide

Kussmaul respirations are a distinctive type of deep, labored breathing typically associated with metabolic acidosis. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the kidneys are unable to excrete sufficient hydrogen ions, leading to an accumulation of acid in the body. This condition triggers compensatory mechanisms, including an increase in the rate and depth of respiration in an attempt to expel more carbon dioxide and correct the acid-base imbalance. Kussmaul respirations serve as an important clinical indicator of metabolic acidosis, demonstrating the body’s effort to maintain homeostasis when faced with increased acidity.

The other options do not directly indicate metabolic acidosis. A rash can occur due to a variety of reasons including allergies or infections, and is not specifically linked to acid-base disorders. Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels and is not a direct consequence of metabolic acidosis in patients with ESRD. Hypertension is a common comorbidity in kidney disease but does not indicate metabolic acidosis. Each of these other choices is associated with different pathophysiological processes that are not directly indicative of an acid-base disturbance like metabolic acidosis.