Question

While making rounds, the nurse smells smoke coming from a client's room. On checking the room, the nurse finds a fire in the trash can. The nurse should give priority to: A. Activating the fire alarm B. Locating the unit fire extinguisher C. Moving the client to a safe location D. Evacuating all the clients to another unit

Short answer

Answer: The nurse should prioritize moving the client to a safe location.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the options

In this scenario, the nurse is presented with four options on how to react to the situation: A. Activating the fire alarm B. Locating the unit fire extinguisher C. Moving the client to a safe location D. Evacuating all the clients to another unit

Evaluate the importance of activating the fire alarm

Activating the fire alarm is important because it alerts others in the building to the presence of a fire and may lead to assistance from staff or emergency responders. However, it might not be the most immediate concern if the client is in immediate danger.

Evaluate the importance of locating the unit fire extinguisher

Locating the unit fire extinguisher can be helpful to put out the fire. However, attempting to extinguish the fire could take time and may not be successful. In addition, trying to put out the fire while the client is still in danger might not be the best strategy, since their safety should be prioritized.

Evaluate the importance of moving the client to a safe location

Ensuring the safety of the client should be the nurse's top priority in this situation. By moving the client to a safe location, the nurse is better equipped to provide care and protect them from any harm caused by the fire. This action addresses the immediate threat to the client's well-being.

Evaluate the importance of evacuating all the clients to another unit

While evacuating all clients in the potentially affected area is important, it may not be the most urgent priority. The nurse may not be able to evacuate all clients before addressing the needs of the client in immediate danger.

Analyze the best choice

When comparing these options, the most important priority should be ensuring the safety of the client who is in immediate danger due to the fire. As a result, the most appropriate action for the nurse to take in this situation should be: C. Moving the client to a safe location This action addresses the immediate threat to the client's well-being and ensures their safety before addressing other aspects of the situation, such as alerting others to the fire or attempting to extinguish it.