A nurse is caring for a group of clients on an infectious disease unit.
The nurse should wear an N95 respirator mask when caring for a client who has which of the following disorders?

Choice A rationale:

Ears are located on the sides of the head, not between the cranial and thoracic cavities. The ears are lateral structures on the head.

Choice B rationale:

Elbow is a joint located in the upper limb, specifically in the arm. It is not between the cranial and thoracic cavities. The elbow is a joint that allows the forearm to bend.

Choice C rationale:

Knee is a joint in the lower limb, connecting the thigh bone to the shin bone. It is not located between the cranial and thoracic cavities. The knee joint allows for movements like bending and straightening of the leg.

Choice D rationale:

The nape of the neck refers to the back of the neck. It is the posterior part of the neck, located between the cranial (head) and thoracic (upper chest) cavities. The nape of the neck is a specific anatomical location.

The correct answer is Choice C.

Choice A rationale: Using a fire extinguisher is part of containment, but it follows evacuation. Attempting to extinguish before removing clients violates RACE protocol and risks patient injury from smoke or electrical fire.

Choice B rationale: Activating the fire alarm initiates emergency response but comes after client rescue. Per RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish), client safety is prioritized before system-wide alerts.

Choice C rationale: Moving clients to safety is the first step in fire response. It aligns with the “Rescue” phase of RACE, ensuring immediate protection from smoke inhalation, electrical hazards, and fire spread.

Choice D rationale: Confine by closing doors and windows is part of containment, which follows rescue and alarm activation. It helps limit fire spread but is not the initial priority in patient-centered emergencies.