Final answer:
In a scenario where a client's trash can is on fire, the nurse should follow the RACE protocol, starting with rescuing the non-ambulatory client by evacuating them to safety. Afterwards, the nurse should activate the fire alarm, confine the fire, and then either extinguish the fire or continue to evacuate as needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When faced with a fire situation, such as a trash can on fire in a healthcare setting, it is crucial to follow the RACE protocol for fire safety. RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Confine, and Extinguish/Evacuate. The priority should be to Rescue anyone in immediate danger. Since the client in the scenario is non-ambulatory, the nurse should first ensure the client's safety by evacuating the client from the vicinity of the fire.
Once the client is safe, the next step would be to Activate the emergency fire alarm to alert other staff and initiate a facility-wide response. Following this, the nurse should attempt to Confine the fire by closing doors and windows to prevent the spread of smoke and fire, if it can be done safely without personal risk. The last step would involve either Extinguishing the fire if the nurse is trained and it is safe to do so or to Evacuate further and let the fire department handle the extinguishing of the fire.
Such actions are symbolic of a firefighter's role, which often involves the necessity to rescue victims from burning buildings, search burning buildings to locate fire victims, and use professional judgment to assess fires and make critical decisions in the face of uncertainty over whether a serious fire or hazard awaits after an alarm is raised.