A client who is receiving chemotherapy has developed stomatitis. Which instruction should the practical nurse (PN) provide the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who is assisting with the care of this client?

A. Provide gentle and meticulous mouth care: Stomatitis causes painful inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa. Gentle, thorough oral care reduces the risk of infection, promotes healing, and helps maintain oral hygiene, making this the most important instruction for the UAP. B. Keep the room environment free of unpleasant odors: Minimizing odors can help with nausea, but it does not directly address stomatitis care. This is a supportive measure, not a primary intervention. C. Assist the client with feeding at meal times: Assistance with feeding is helpful for comfort and nutrition, but it does not directly manage the oral lesions or reduce infection risk. D. Gather supplies for protective environment precautions: Protective environment precautions are primarily used for clients with severe immunosuppression. While important in some chemotherapy settings, the key intervention for stomatitis is proper oral care.