A person in the hospital pulls out a firearm and starts shooting patients and staff at random in the emergency department. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

Flee the scene if safe to do so. In an active shooter situation the nurse’s first priority should be to ensure their own safety, rather than the safety of others. This can be done by first attempting to flee the scene, secondly hiding in place, and thirdly attempting to neutralize the shooter. Attempting to stop an active shooter will likely be unsuccessful and should not be attempted unless it is the only option. Attempting to evacuate large numbers of patients during an active shooter event will not be safe. Reaching the nearest phone prior to leaving the area will increase the nurse's risk of injury.

A person in the hospital pulls out a firearm and starts shooting ...

Category: Safety and Infection Control
Difficulty: 3

Topics: Crisis Management Disease Prevention Health Care Ethics, Law, and Policy Health Care Quality Health Promotion

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