A client has experienced an electrical injury of the lower extremities. Which priority assessment data should be obtained from this client?
a. Range of motion in all extremities
b. Heart rate, rhythm, and electrocardiogram (ECG)
c. Respiratory rate and pulse oximetry
d. Orientation to time, place, and person
B
The airway is not at any particular risk with this injury. Therefore, respiratory rate and pulse oximetry are not priority assessments. Electrical current travels through the body from the en-trance site to the exit site and can seriously damage all tissues between the two sites. Early car-diac damage from electrical injury includes irregular heart rate and rhythm, and ECG changes. Range-of-motion and neurologic assessments are important; however, the priority is to make sure that the heart rate and rhythm are adequate to support perfusion to the brain and other vital organs.
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