Final answer:
Nurses expect to find involuntary muscle contractions, burns, and potential arrhythmias or cardiac arrest in patients with electrical injuries to the hand. Secondary complications like edema may also occur. The effects are primarily due to the stronger closure muscles of the hand and systemic electrical disruptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient has suffered an electrical injury to the hand, a nurse can expect to find several acute symptoms and signs resulting from the damage. The primary manifestations may include muscle contractions that are often involuntary, which could result in a clenched fist around the source of electricity, as the muscles that close the fingers are usually stronger than those that open them. This could lead to a condition known as an electrical grip, where the patient cannot let go of the object delivering the current. Additionally, there might be visible burns on the skin or underlying tissues. One should also be aware of the potential systemic effects such as arrhythmias or cardiac arrest, especially if there is a lack of normal electrical activity as this can dramatically affect the heart rate (pulse).
Furthermore, it's crucial to monitor for secondary complications, for example, edema, which is the swelling of tissues that can occur if the electrical current causes damage to blood vessels. The most immediate concerns are the burn injuries and the disruption of the electrical and neuromuscular systems of the affected arm. It’s imperative to conduct a thorough assessment, as injuries from electrical shocks can often be more severe than they appear on the surface.