A client who suffered an electrical injury with the entrance site on the left hand and the exit site on the left foot is admitted to the burn unit. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in this client's plan of care (POC)?

A. Evaluate level of consciousness: Electrical injuries, especially high-voltage, can cause neurological effects such as confusion, seizures, or peripheral neuropathy. Monitoring the client’s neurological status is important, but it is not the most immediate life-threatening risk following electrical trauma. B. Perform passive range of motion: Electrical burns can result in tissue damage, contractures, and musculoskeletal injury. Passive range-of-motion exercises help maintain joint mobility and prevent contractures. While important in rehabilitation, this intervention is not the first priority during acute care. C. Continuous cardiac monitoring: Electrical injuries can cause cardiac dysrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation and asystole, due to direct electrical conduction through the heart. The presence of an entrance and exit site across the body indicates a current path that may involve the heart. Continuous cardiac monitoring is critical to detect life-threatening arrhythmias early, making it the most urgent intervention in the acute phase of care. D. Assess lung sounds every 4 hours: Respiratory assessment is important in any critically ill client and can identify complications such as pulmonary edema or inhalation injury. However, in a patient with an electrical injury without evidence of chest involvement, cardiac monitoring takes precedence due to the higher immediate risk of fatal arrhythmias.