What is the priority action after a client sustains an electrical burn?

In the case of an electrical burn, the priority action is to obtain an electrocardiogram (ECG). Electrical burns can lead to significant cardiac complications, including the potential for arrhythmias due to the electrical current passing through the body, which can disrupt normal heart rhythms. Therefore, assessing the heart’s electrical activity is critical to identify any immediate and potentially life-threatening abnormalities.

While providing wound care, preparing for an arterial blood gas collection, and initiating supplemental oxygen are all important in the comprehensive management of a client with an electrical burn, they do not address the urgent cardiac risks associated with the injury. The primary concern after such trauma is to ensure that the heart is functioning properly and to detect any possible complications early, thereby prioritizing the need for an ECG.