When caring for a client, the nurse knows the best method to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is to do what?

Choice A rationale:

Using a fire extinguisher should not be the nurse's first action in this situation. The nurse's priority is to ensure the safety of the clients and staff in the vicinity. Attempting to use a fire extinguisher might not be effective and can potentially cause harm, especially if the fire spreads quickly.

Choice B rationale:

Activating the fire alarm is the nurse's priority in this situation. By activating the fire alarm, the nurse can alert everyone in the facility about the fire, ensuring that people are aware and can evacuate safely. This action initiates the facility's fire response protocol, leading to a quicker and organized response to the emergency.

Choice C rationale:

Moving clients to safety is important, but it is not the nurse's immediate priority in this situation. Activating the fire alarm should be done first to ensure that everyone in the facility is aware of the danger, and then the nurse can assist in moving clients to safety if necessary.

Choice A rationale:

The client's respirations are faster and deeper than normal due to expelling too much carbon dioxide. This condition is known as hyperventilation. Hyperventilation can occur due to various reasons such as anxiety, pain, fever, or metabolic acidosis. When the body expels excessive carbon dioxide, it leads to respiratory alkalosis, resulting in faster and deeper breathing to compensate for the decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Choice B rationale:

This option is incorrect. Hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen levels, typically leads to rapid, shallow breathing (tachypnea) rather than deep and fast respirations.

Choice C rationale:

This option is incorrect. Inflammation of the phrenic nerve does not directly affect the depth and rate of respirations. Phrenic nerve inflammation is more likely to cause pain during breathing or hiccups.

Choice D rationale:

This option is incorrect. Using intercostal muscles to breathe is a normal physiological process, especially during deep or labored breathing. However, it does not explain the specific situation described in the question, where the respirations are faster and deeper than normal.