Avoiding Alarm Fatigue in Bedside Nursing

Abstract

Record ID: 108

Award(s): Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: Capstone

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: In bedside nursing, nurses are experiencing an all-time high of burnout from alarm fatigue. The constant beeping and ringing of alarms is causing distress in bedside nurses and imposing a risk to patient safety. There is a strong consensus among bedside nurses that the constant beeping of alarms is causing feelings of burnout and frustration. The purpose of our project is to increase the bedside nurses' knowledge level of changing alarm parameters to decrease alarm fatigue, nursing burnout, clinical workload, and patient harm. Altering alarm parameters specific to each patient will decrease the number of unnecessary alarms, eliminating alarm fatigue and helping maintain patient safety. We gave a few select registered nurses at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Medical Intensive Care Unit an educated lecture on alarm fatigue, its effects, causes, and strategies on how to avoid it, such as changing alarm parameters. A pre and post-test consisting of 10 questions each was administered and allowed us to view if any knowledge was gained from the presentation. We also used a visibly appealing handout to aid in our education. Each nurse was given a handout and multiple were posted around the unit. Results pending. The outcome of our project will allow us to improve the well-being of bedside nurses and their patients.