Jennifer Carulla RN MAN

Clinical Instructor

Group A 4Y1-1

Ballesteros, Mea Anne

Camba, Ma. Liezel

Fajardo, Ruby

Macaraig, John Bernabe

Pendi, Kanguan Jr.

Ramirez, Ian Christopher

INTRODUCTION

“I once saw the world’s ugliest baby drown. But then I realized, “That’s not a baby,

that’s a log. And it’s not drowning, it’s burning.” I wonder what it did to deserve

that? It was probably a heretic.” - anonymous

The student nurses chosen case study is about electrical burns, in relation to

the quote—our patient’s situation may have chief complaints of pain, electrolytes

and fluid imbalance even ineffective coping and body image disturbance. Just like

what is asked. “What it did to deserve that?” Electrical burns are most likely injuries

that result from accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances,

wiring, or lightning strikes.

In the case of our patient, he is working as a welder. While working, he

accidentally touched a live wire using his left hand that caused a severe electrical

burn, and then he fell down from the second floor that caused trauma on his head.

During the student nurses interaction with the patient, his appearance looked fatal

and needed vital attention and intervention to be done. In the thought that just an

ordinary welder like him would be in a serious and life threatening condition—

people just simply don’t know what will happen next and how they can cope with it

once it brings many changes.

In our group case study the electrical burn of our patient focuses on

occupational accidents, it can occur from electric arcs from high-voltage power

lines. Electric arcs occur when a burst of electricity jumps from one electrical

conductor to another, creating bright flashes.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your chance of an electrical burn or injury include:

Occupations with exposure to electric currents, such as a utility worker

Occupations involving outdoor work, such as agriculture

Being outside during thunderstorms or in areas where thunderstorms are

common

Working with electrical installations or appliances without proper training

Symptoms

Symptoms will depend on the amount of electricity that passed through the body

and length of time the current was in contact with the body.

An electrical shock can cause severe muscle contractions. These contractions

can causes falls or injuries, including broken bones. Other symptoms include:

Numbness or tingling

Weakness

Visible burns on the skin

Headache

Feeling disoriented

The electrical current can also disrupt certain functions in the body which may

cause:

Low blood pressure which can lead to lightheadedness and weakness

Seizures

Heart arrhythmias which may be unnoticed or feel like flutters in the chest

Electricity can also cause cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and/or

unconsciousness.

I. Objectives:

General Objectives:

To provide the student a guide line in caring for people with Electrical burns

using the nursing process appropriately and effectively.

To give information on the readers about the nature and the extent of factors

and causes of electrical burns.

Lastly, to provide the general public of the new developments in nursing care

in regards of treating the disease condition.

Specific Objectives:

At the end of this study, we, the student nurses of this institution, will able to:

Define and identify the probable causative factors of electrical burns

Trace the anatomy and physiology.

Assess the nursing history of the patient.

Identify the signs and symptoms of the underlying disease.

Formulate the nursing care plan, to achieve the maximum wellness of the

patients well as awareness on the part of the significant others.

To provide health teaching to the patient and significant others to improved

the former condition and prevents complication.