NCLEX-RNSafety and Infection Prevention and ControlMedium
A nurse is responding to a fire alarm on the unit. The nurse discovers a small fire in a client's wastebasket. The client is ambulatory and responsive. What is the nurse's priority action?
- AAttempt to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher.
- BClose the client's door and activate the fire alarm.
- CEvacuate the client from the room to a safe area.
- DRemove the wastebasket from the room and place it in a sink.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Evacuate the client from the room to a safe area.
In any fire emergency, the priority is always client safety. The RACE acronym (Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish) guides actions. Rescuing clients in immediate danger is the first step. Since the client is in the room with the fire, they are in immediate danger and must be moved to safety first.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Extinguishing (E) is the last step in RACE; client safety (R) comes first.
- B. Closing the door (C) and activating the alarm (A) are important, but rescuing the client (R) in immediate danger takes precedence.
- D. Removing the wastebasket could spread the fire or cause burns to the nurse; it's not the priority over client safety.
RACE Protocol (Fire Safety)
An acronym used in healthcare settings to guide actions during a fire emergency.
- R: Rescue anyone in danger.
- A: Alarm, activate fire alarm.
- C: Confine the fire by closing doors.
- E: Extinguish the fire if safe to do so.
Memory trick: RACE to Safety when you see the Blaze.