Final answer:
In the event of a fire in a hospital's dialysis unit, the nurse's first action should be to remove patients or staff in danger, prioritizing their immediate safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Priority Actions in a Hospital Fire
If there is a fire in a hospital's dialysis unit, the nurse’s first action should be to remove patients or staff in danger. The primary responsibility of the healthcare provider is to ensure the safety of the patients and staff. Once any immediate danger to life is addressed, the next steps would include activating the fire response system, attempting to confine the fire by closing all fire doors if safe to do so, and then, if possible and safe, attempting to extinguish the fire.
Dialysis technicians and nurses are trained to prioritize patient safety always, especially during emergencies. This includes having knowledge of safety equipment locations, like fire extinguishers, and following established protocols for evacuation and emergency response. The duty to rescue victims from burning buildings, administer first aid, and other immediate lifesaving actions would typically fall to first responders, such as firefighters, who have the equipment to safely navigate the dangers of a fire.