Nurses' Perspectives on Clinical Alarms.
BACKGROUND
Alarm hazards are a critical issue in patient safety. Of all health care providers, nurses are the ones most directly affected by the multitude of clinical alarms.


OBJECTIVE
To qualitatively explore nurses' experiences with clinical alarms.


METHODS
The Krippendorff method for content analysis was used to analyze comments provided by 406 nurses in a national survey on perceptions of clinical alarms.


RESULTS
Six interrelated themes emerged: dissonance and desensitization; pollution, panic, and pathology; calling for accountability; calling for authority of nurses; clinical alarm management is crucial but not a panacea; and hope for the future.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses are concerned about the impact of alarm fatigue on nurses and patients, recognize the importance of nurses' role in reducing noise pollution, and offer valuable insight into strategies that can mitigate alarm hazards.
Linda Honan is an associate professor, Michaela Maynard is a graduate of the master's of science in nursing program, and Deborah Fahs is an assistant professor, Yale University School of Nursing, West Haven, Connecticut. Marjorie Funk is a professor, Yale University School of Nursing, and a member of the board of directors, Healthcare Technology Foundation (http://www.thehtf.org). J. Tobey Clark is the director, instrumentation and technical services, and a lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, and president of the Healthcare Technology Foundation. Yadin David is principal, Biomedical Engineering Consultants, LLC, Houston, Texas, and president emeritus, the Healthcare Technology Foundation. linda.pellico@yale.edu.
Linda
L
Honan
Linda Honan is an associate professor, Michaela Maynard is a graduate of the master's of science in nursing program, and Deborah Fahs is an assistant professor, Yale University School of Nursing, West Haven, Connecticut. Marjorie Funk is a professor, Yale University School of Nursing, and a member of the board of directors, Healthcare Technology Foundation (http://www.thehtf.org). J. Tobey Clark is the director, instrumentation and technical services, and a lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, and president of the Healthcare Technology Foundation. Yadin David is principal, Biomedical Engineering Consultants, LLC, Houston, Texas, and president emeritus, the Healthcare Technology Foundation.
Marjorie
M
Funk
Linda Honan is an associate professor, Michaela Maynard is a graduate of the master's of science in nursing program, and Deborah Fahs is an assistant professor, Yale University School of Nursing, West Haven, Connecticut. Marjorie Funk is a professor, Yale University School of Nursing, and a member of the board of directors, Healthcare Technology Foundation (http://www.thehtf.org). J. Tobey Clark is the director, instrumentation and technical services, and a lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, and president of the Healthcare Technology Foundation. Yadin David is principal, Biomedical Engineering Consultants, LLC, Houston, Texas, and president emeritus, the Healthcare Technology Foundation.
Michaela
M
Maynard
Linda Honan is an associate professor, Michaela Maynard is a graduate of the master's of science in nursing program, and Deborah Fahs is an assistant professor, Yale University School of Nursing, West Haven, Connecticut. Marjorie Funk is a professor, Yale University School of Nursing, and a member of the board of directors, Healthcare Technology Foundation (http://www.thehtf.org). J. Tobey Clark is the director, instrumentation and technical services, and a lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, and president of the Healthcare Technology Foundation. Yadin David is principal, Biomedical Engineering Consultants, LLC, Houston, Texas, and president emeritus, the Healthcare Technology Foundation.
Deborah
D
Fahs
Linda Honan is an associate professor, Michaela Maynard is a graduate of the master's of science in nursing program, and Deborah Fahs is an assistant professor, Yale University School of Nursing, West Haven, Connecticut. Marjorie Funk is a professor, Yale University School of Nursing, and a member of the board of directors, Healthcare Technology Foundation (http://www.thehtf.org). J. Tobey Clark is the director, instrumentation and technical services, and a lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, and president of the Healthcare Technology Foundation. Yadin David is principal, Biomedical Engineering Consultants, LLC, Houston, Texas, and president emeritus, the Healthcare Technology Foundation.
J Tobey
JT
Clark
Linda Honan is an associate professor, Michaela Maynard is a graduate of the master's of science in nursing program, and Deborah Fahs is an assistant professor, Yale University School of Nursing, West Haven, Connecticut. Marjorie Funk is a professor, Yale University School of Nursing, and a member of the board of directors, Healthcare Technology Foundation (http://www.thehtf.org). J. Tobey Clark is the director, instrumentation and technical services, and a lecturer, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, and president of the Healthcare Technology Foundation. Yadin David is principal, Biomedical Engineering Consultants, LLC, Houston, Texas, and president emeritus, the Healthcare Technology Foundation.
Yadin
Y
David
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D056902:Clinical Alarms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061214:Patient Safety; D017751:Safety Management; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology