A nurse is assessing a sedated client whose respiratory rate has fallen below 10 respirations per minute.
The nurse identifies this condition as what?

Choice A rationale:

Confine the fire by closing doors and windows. While confining the fire is important, the nurse's first priority should be ensuring the safety of the client. Closing doors and windows may help prevent the fire from spreading, but it does not address the immediate danger to the client.

Choice B rationale:

Activate the fire alarm system. Activating the fire alarm is a crucial step to alert other staff members, patients, and visitors about the fire. However, it is not the first action the nurse should take. Ensuring the safety of the client should be the top priority.

Choice C rationale:

Extinguish the fire if possible. Attempting to extinguish the fire can be dangerous for the nurse and may waste precious time. The nurse's safety and the client's safety should be the primary concern. Trying to put out the fire before ensuring the client's safety is not the best course of action.

Choice D rationale:

Rescue the client from immediate danger. This is the correct answer because the nurse's first priority in a fire emergency is to ensure the safety of the client. Rescuing the client from immediate danger should be done before any other actions are taken. The nurse should assess the situation, help the client to safety, and then notify others about the fire and activate the alarm system.

Choice B rationale:

Call for additional staff to assist with the transfer. The nurse's priority in this situation is ensuring the safety of the client during the transfer from the chair to the bed. Calling for additional staff provides the necessary support to safely move the client, minimizing the risk of falls or injuries. It is crucial to have an adequate number of staff members to assist in transfers, especially when the client's mobility is compromised.

Choice A rationale:

Obtain a walker for the client to use to transfer back to bed. While a walker can be helpful for mobility, the client has already asked to return to bed, indicating the immediate need for assistance. Waiting to obtain a walker could delay the transfer, potentially putting the client at risk.

Choice C rationale:

Use a transfer belt and assist the client back into bed. Using a transfer belt is a suitable technique for assisting clients with mobility. However, the nurse's priority in this scenario is to ensure there is enough staff assistance to guarantee a safe transfer. The nurse should not attempt to perform the transfer alone, even with a transfer belt, as it might be unsafe for both the nurse and the client.

Choice D rationale:

Determine the client's ability to help with the transfer. While assessing the client's ability to participate in the transfer is important, it is not the nurse's priority in this situation. The immediate concern is to secure adequate assistance to safely move the client back to bed.