Final answer:
The first action a nurse should take for a patient with ventricular fibrillation is to perform defibrillation option(a), which is crucial for attempting to restore a normal heartbeat.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient in the coronary care unit develops ventricular fibrillation, the first action the nurse should take is to perform defibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening condition where the ventricles beat in an erratic, inefficient manner, failing to effectively pump blood.
Immediate defibrillation is vital as it can deliver a controlled electrical shock to the heart, to halt the uncoordinated contractions and allow the body's natural pacemaker to regain control and establish a normal sinus rhythm. In the hospital setting, the use of defibrillator paddles is common for this procedure.
While Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are found in many public places and can be used by nonmedical personnel, in a hospital setting the staff typically use manual defibrillators and are trained in their use.
Defibrillation is the most critical and immediate treatment for ventricular fibrillation, followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as needed, and other advanced life support measures such as administering IV antidysrhythmic drugs.