In case of a fire in a client's room at a long-term care facility, what should the nurse's first action be?

In the event of a fire in a client’s room at a long-term care facility, the nurse's first action should be to evacuate the client from the room. This priority is grounded in the fundamental principle of patient safety: ensuring that individuals are removed from immediate danger before any other steps are taken.

While sounding the alarm and calling for help are critical actions to promote overall safety and get assistance, the immediate concern must be the well-being of the client who could be in direct danger from the fire. Evacuation minimizes the risk of injury or worse, as exposure to smoke and flames can lead to rapid harm.

Extinguishing the fire can be an appropriate response in certain scenarios, particularly if the fire is small and contained; however, it should not take precedence over ensuring the client’s safety through removal from the room. Given the circumstances of a fire, the priority shifts towards safeguarding the individuals at risk first and foremost.