The nurse is teaching a student nurse about ongoing monitoring of a client with electrical burns. Which statement indicates the need for further teaching?

• A. I should monitor the airway.
• B. I should monitor the eye pH.
• C. I should monitor vital signs.
• D. I should monitor urine output.

Answer: (B)

In electrical burn care, the focus of ongoing monitoring is on airway, circulation, and renal function because these injuries can progress quickly to life-threatening problems. The airway needs close watch due to potential edema or inhalation injury, so readiness to intervene with airway support is essential. Vital signs are tracked continuously to detect instability, arrhythmias, or shock, which can occur with electrical injury. Monitoring urine output is important because muscle damage from the current can cause rhabdomyolysis, leading to kidney injury; ensuring adequate urine output helps protect renal function.

The statement about monitoring the eye pH isn’t part of standard ongoing monitoring for electrical burns. Eye pH monitoring is typically associated with chemical ocular burns, where surface pH helps guide irrigation and management. For electrical burns, you’d still assess the eyes for injury, but pH measurement isn’t a routine monitoring parameter.

So, the need for follow-up teaching is tied to the idea that eye pH is not a relevant ongoing monitoring parameter in this scenario, whereas airway status, vital signs, and urine output are.