After activating the fire alarm, what is the next action a nurse should take when seeing smoke?

The best course of action after activating the fire alarm and noticing smoke is to take off sources of oxygen near the fire. This is crucial because oxygen can significantly fuel a fire, making it spread more rapidly and dangerously. By removing or shutting off oxygen sources in the immediate vicinity of the fire, the nurse can help to mitigate the fire's intensity and limit its expansion, thus improving safety for patients and staff.

In a fire situation, containment and managing the fire's potential to escalate is critical, which is why addressing oxygen sources first is essential. After ensuring that oxygen sources are removed, the nurse can then focus on other safety protocols, such as closing doors to contain the fire or considering evacuation measures. However, the priority must always be to limit any factors that could exacerbate the fire's growth.