Critical care nurses' perceptions and practices towards clinical alarms

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Alarm fatigue, characterized by muted or controlled alarms, poses a substantial threat to patient safety in healthcare settings.
• Many institutions recognize the risks associated with alarm fatigue and are seeking solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate critical care nurses' perceptions of medical device alarms.
• To assess the prevalence and impact of alarm fatigue among nurses.
• To understand current alarm management practices in intensive care units (ICUs).

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study involving 48 nurses from two ICUs at a university hospital in South Korea.
• Utilized a self-administered questionnaire to gather data on perceptions and practices.
• Achieved a 100% response rate.

Main Results:

• Critical care nurses reported moderate to high levels of alarm fatigue (average score 29.1/40).
• Key issues identified for alarm management include frequent false alarms and inadequate staffing.
• Nurses' alarm management practices varied based on clinical experience and patient safety incident history.

Conclusions:

• A standardized medical device alarm management protocol is crucial for accurate alarm identification and timely response.
• Reducing alarm fatigue requires comprehensive education, consistent training, and adequate nursing staff in ICUs.