Impact of Patient-Specific Alarm Customization of Alarm Fatigue

Abstract

Record ID: 112

Award: Excellence in Research Communication

Student Major: Nursing

Project Advisor: Mohammad Othman

Abstract: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses experience an extensive number of alarms on an average day, some experiencing as many as 45.5 alarms per patient, per hour. As a result of this continual exposure to frequent alarming, 72.4% of nurses report experiencing alarm fatigue. The research question of focus is as follows: Among nurses working in ICUs, how does patient-specific alarm customization as compared to current practice reduce alarm fatigue? Research identified utilization of customized alarm parameters based on individualized patient characteristics as a promising solution to the issue of alarm fatigue but recognized inconsistent practice of alarm customization. The objectives were to increase awareness of alarm fatigue, its potential effects on nurses and patients, and emphasize the importance of utilizing patient-specific alarm customization in a more uniform way in hopes of decreasing alarm fatigue. An educational intervention was implemented for University of Cincinnati Medical Center Medical ICU nurses involving a verbal presentation with a supplemental brochure outlining what alarm fatigue is, its prevalence, how it affects nursing, the importance of implementing patient-specific alarm customization, and recommendations for change. Results pending.