Nursing Care of a Patient Followed in the Intensive Care Unit in the Acute Period After Electrical Burn According to Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns Model: A Case Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The World Health Organization reported about 265 000 deaths per year from fires alone worldwide, with more deaths from electrical burns, scalds, and other causes of burns. Electrical burns are an important public health problem all over the world and in our country of Turkey. Nursing care for patients with electrical burn injuries and support for the patient’s family throughout recovery involve complex and demanding expertise. In this study, we have presented the nursing care of a patient with electrical burn who was followed in the intensive care unit according to Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns Model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 44-year-old male patient was admitted to the burn unit after he contacted electrical wires while changing a sign on the highway. He had second-degree and third-degree burns on his arms, hands, and feet (28% of total body surface area). The goals during this phase were saving a life, maintaining and protecting the airways, restoring hemodynamic stability, promoting healing, and preventing complications. In the intensive care unit, we provided care, follow-up, and treatment according to Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns Model and multidisciplinary patient care plans. RESULTS: Nursing care was planned according to effective management of the individual, who had imbalanced nutrition of less than body requirements, deficient fluid volume, constipation risk, self-care deficits, a disturbed sleep pattern, acute pain, interrupted family processes, sexual dysfunction, and anxiety. Nursing diagnoses for interventions were applied, and evaluations were made. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses can positively affect all phases of patient care. In the case described here, Gordon ’s Functional Health Patterns model formed the basis of nursing care, resulting in achievement of goals of the planned nursing care.