Symptom Management and Supportive Care Flashcards

A child undergoing chemotherapy reports mouth sores that prevent eating. The nurse documents this as:

Answer: Stomatitis/mucositis

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis (stomatitis) refers to inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa that can severely impair oral intake.

Which intervention is MOST effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children?

Answer: Pre-medicating with antiemetics before chemotherapy

Antiemetics given before chemotherapy (prophylactically) are far more effective than treating nausea after it begins.

A child on opioids for cancer pain develops constipation. The BEST intervention is:

Answer: Administer a stimulant laxative and stool softener

Opioid-induced constipation requires a stimulant laxative (to promote motility) combined with a stool softener for safe, effective relief.

A child with cancer who is in moderate pain rates it 7/10. According to the WHO analgesic ladder, the appropriate step is:

Answer: Strong opioid (morphine) ± non-opioid

Moderate-to-severe pain (6–10/10) corresponds to WHO Step 3, which calls for a strong opioid such as morphine, with or without adjuvants.

To assess pain in a 3-year-old child with leukemia who cannot verbalize pain level, the nurse should use:

Answer: FLACC behavioral pain scale

The FLACC scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) is validated for assessing pain in pre-verbal and young children via behavioral observation.

A child receiving radiation therapy to the head develops hair loss. The nurse should explain that this hair loss is:

Answer: Likely temporary if radiation dose is low, but may be permanent at high doses

Radiation-induced alopecia is field-specific; at lower doses hair usually regrows, but high-dose cranial radiation can cause permanent hair loss.