# A client receiving chemotherapy has painful oral mucositis. Which instruction should the nurse include in the plan of care?

> source: MyMerci (mymerci.kr)  
> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498282&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Assistive Devices  
> category: BCC

## Question

A client receiving chemotherapy has painful oral mucositis. Which instruction should the nurse include in the plan of care?

## Option

1. Use an alcohol-based mouthwash after meals to reduce oral bacteria
2. Stop brushing the teeth until the oral lesions have completely healed
3. Clean the mouth with a soft toothbrush and use a bland saline rinse **✔ Correct answer**
4. Choose acidic drinks and firm foods to remove coating from the mouth

**Correct answer: 3**

## Explanation

Gentle mechanical cleaning with a soft toothbrush and frequent bland rinses helps remove debris, maintain moisture, and reduce irritation during oral mucositis. Alcohol-based rinses, acidic foods, and stopping oral care can worsen discomfort or allow plaque and debris to accumulate.

## In-depth explanation

Quick answer
Use a soft toothbrush and a bland saline rinse. The goal is gentle cleaning and moisture without adding chemical or mechanical irritation.

Why this is correct
Mucositis damages the protective oral lining and makes it painful and vulnerable. Soft brushing removes plaque while bland rinsing loosens debris and soothes tissue, supporting hygiene without scraping or drying the mucosa.

Easy analogy or mental picture
Caring for mucositis is like cleaning a shallow skin abrasion with gentle water and a soft cloth rather than scrubbing it with alcohol. The analogy explains low-irritation care, but oral assessment must also consider infection, bleeding risk, and prescribed pain treatment.

Memory hook
Sore chemotherapy mouth means soft brush, bland rinse, moist tissue, and less irritation.

NCLEX decision rule
For chemotherapy-related oral mucositis, choose gentle oral hygiene and bland nonalcoholic rinses. Avoid stopping oral care, using alcohol-based products, or choosing rough, hot, spicy, or acidic foods.

Why the other choices are wrong
Alcohol-based rinses can dry and irritate tissue. Stopping brushing allows plaque to accumulate, while acidic drinks and firm foods can injure the already inflamed mucosa.References

- [1]NCSBN: 2026 NCLEX-RN Test PlanNational Council of State Boards of Nursing

- [2]NCI: Oral Complications of Cancer TherapiesNational Cancer Institute

## Related questions

- [A client after a stroke coughs when drinking thin liquids. Which nursing action best promo…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=396624&lang=en)
- [A client with left-leg weakness is learning to walk with a cane. Which statement by the cl…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=497755&lang=en)
- [An older adult with hearing loss repeatedly asks the nurse to repeat discharge instruction…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=497912&lang=en)
- [A client with low vision says, "I cannot read the medication labels or discharge sheet." W…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498096&lang=en)
- [A client with a tracheostomy has coarse breath sounds, visible secretions in the tube, and…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498501&lang=en)
- [An older adult with severe knee osteoarthritis is continent at home but has repeated urina…](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498701&lang=en)

## Read in another language

- [en](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498282&lang=en)
- [ko](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498282&lang=ko)
- [ja](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498282&lang=ja)
- [zh-TW](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498282&lang=zh-tw)
- [vi](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=498282&lang=vi)

---

More free questions: [NCLEX-RN Practice](https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_bank.php?lang=en)

_For study reference only. Always follow current clinical guidelines and your institution’s protocols._