Critical care nurses and their clinical reasoning for customizing monitor alarms: a mixed-method study

Abstract Objective To explore the clinical rationale of critical care nurses for personalizing monitor alarms. One of the most crucial jobs assigned to critical care nurses is monitoring patients’ physiological indicators and carrying out the necessary associated interventions. Successful use of equipment in the nursing practice environment will be improved by a thorough understanding of the nurse’s approach to alarm configuration. Methods A mixed-method design integrating quantitative and qualitative components was used. The sample of this study recruited a convenience sample of 60 nurses who have worked in critical care areas. This study took place at Lebanese American University Medical Center Rizk Hospital, utilizing a semi-structured interview with participants. Results The study demonstrated the high incidence of nuisance alarms and the desensitization of critical care nurses to vital ones. According to the nurses, frequent false alarms and a shortage of staff are the 2 main causes of alarm desensitization. Age was significantly associated with the perception of Smart alarms, according to the data ( P = 0.03). Four interconnected themes and subcategories that reflect the clinical reasoning process for alarm customization were developed as a result of the study’s qualitative component: (1) unit alarm environment; (2) nursing style; (3) motivation to customize; and (4) clinical and technological customization. Conclusions According to this study, nurses believe that alarms are valuable. However, a qualitative analysis of the experiences revealed that customization has been severely limited since the healthcare team depends on nurses to complete these tasks independently. Additionally, a staffing shortage and lack of technical training at the start of placement have also hindered customization.