CPHON Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPHON facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the primary advantage of a tunneled central venous catheter (e.g., Broviac or Hickman) over a non-tunneled central line in pediatric oncology? → The subcutaneous tunnel reduces CLABSI risk and allows long-term use over months to years
2. A child on cyclophosphamide therapy should be instructed to: → Void frequently and maintain high fluid intake
3. The nurse notes that a chemotherapy order includes the child's weight from 3 weeks ago. The BEST action is: → Obtain and document current weight before administering
4. A toddler with neuroblastoma has periorbital ecchymosis (raccoon eyes). The nurse documents this as a sign of: → Orbital metastasis from neuroblastoma
5. Which of the following is in charge of defining the scope of practice for the nurse? → The individual state’s board of nursing and Nurse Practice Act.
6. Which late effect monitoring test is most important for a childhood cancer survivor who received high-dose cisplatin? → Audiogram for sensorineural hearing loss
7. Which nutritional parameter BEST indicates malnutrition risk in a pediatric oncology patient? → Weight loss >5% in one month or weight-for-height below 5th percentile
8. Radiation therapy directed to the thorax in a pediatric oncology patient most commonly causes which acute pulmonary complication? → Radiation pneumonitis
9. A teenager newly diagnosed with lymphoma is withdrawn and refuses to speak to the care team. The nurse's BEST approach is: → Use therapeutic presence and open-ended questions to encourage expression
10. A child is prescribed bleomycin as part of a lymphoma protocol. Which baseline test is MOST important before starting therapy? → Pulmonary function tests
11. During a nursing handoff, the nurse learns a child with a brain tumor has new onset of unequal pupils. This finding suggests: → Increased intracranial pressure — notify provider immediately
12. A child with osteosarcoma of the femur is preparing for limb-salvage surgery. Which nursing intervention is MOST important pre-operatively? → Teach the child about post-operative rehabilitation and expected functional outcomes
13. Which late effect is associated with bleomycin chemotherapy used in treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma? → Pulmonary fibrosis
14. The nurse is caring for a child post-bone marrow transplant with a CMV-negative status. Which blood product should be ordered? → CMV-seronegative or leukoreduced blood products
15. A child on high-dose methotrexate has a serum methotrexate level of 10 micromol/L at 24 hours. The nurse should anticipate administering: → Leucovorin rescue
16. Typhlitis, also known as neutropenic enterocolitis, has been identified in a patient. The main course of action is: → broad-spectrum antibiotics.
17. Which childhood cancer treatment is most closely associated with the late effect of secondary leukemia? → Alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide
18. Which conditioning regimen used prior to HSCT is associated with the highest risk of veno-occlusive disease (VOD)/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome? → Myeloablative conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide
19. A child receiving radiation therapy to the head develops hair loss. The nurse should explain that this hair loss is: → Likely temporary if radiation dose is low, but may be permanent at high doses
20. The CPHON nurse is caring for a child with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Which position is MOST appropriate? → High Fowler's (head of bed elevated 60–90°)
21. A 5-year-old who received craniospinal irradiation for medulloblastoma is at highest risk for which long-term endocrine complication? → Growth hormone deficiency due to hypothalamic-pituitary axis injury
22. When irradiated blood products are ordered for a pediatric oncology patient, the PRIMARY reason is to prevent: → Transfusion-associated GVHD
23. Which targeted therapy is used in pediatric ALL with the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL)? → Imatinib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor)
24. Which late effect associated with high-dose cyclophosphamide should the CPHON nurse monitor for in long-term survivors? → Hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder fibrosis
25. Which intervention BEST prevents central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) during chemotherapy administration? → Use strict aseptic technique with each line access
26. Which staging classification is used for childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma? → St. Jude (Murphy) staging system
27. A child with aplastic anemia has an ANC of 150 cells/mm³. The nurse should place the child in: → Protective (reverse) isolation
28. The nurse is assessing for peripheral neuropathy in a child receiving vincristine. Which assessment is MOST appropriate? → Test deep tendon reflexes and ask about tingling or weakness
29. A pediatric patient is receiving continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil. Which assessment finding warrants immediate notification of the provider? → Chest pain and cardiac arrhythmia
30. A child on high-dose corticosteroids for ALL treatment shows mood swings and increased appetite. The nurse explains these are: → Expected side effects of steroid therapy