Interventions to Decrease Non-Actionable Patient Alarms on the Telemetry Unit

Abstract The goal of this project is to facilitate nurses’ duties throughout the unit in order to provide faster, more efficient patient care in the clinical setting while also increasing patient safety and outcomes. This teaching tool will provide nurses, assistive personnel, and other staff on the telemetry with proper techniques for applying and maintaining cardiac monitors. Non-actionable patient alarms create false readings of abnormal patient conditions that offset alarms and take attention away from clinically significant alarms that require immediate medical interventions. The targeted audience included the staff on the Progressive Care Unit/Telemetry Unit at Norwalk Hospital. Patient satisfaction has been interrupted due to the constant alarms sounding on units. Staff can provide interventions when applying EKG electrodes in order to help minimize the amount of non-actionable patient alarms. Electrodes can fall off during transportation, placed incorrectly, and present with false readings. Interventions include correct electrode preparation and placement, such as cleaning the site and using Skin Prep Paper. This project aimed to improve patient safety and outcomes as well as decrease alarm fatigue and work load. This will help to decrease the amount of alarm fatigue experienced by nurses. Overall, the patient safety and patient-centered care has been improved by these interventions