The relationship between alarm fatigue and burnout among critical care nurses: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAlarm fatigue has significant negative impacts on nurses and patient safety. However, the relationship between alarm fatigue and burnout is still unclear.AimsThis study aimed to explore the relationship between alarm fatigue and burnout among critical care nurses.Study designA descriptive‐analytical cross‐sectional study design was used. Data were collected from five hospitals in mainland China between January 2022 and March 2022. A general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Intensive Care Unit Nurse Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire, and the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used.ResultsA total of 236 critical care nurses were enrolled in this study. The mean score of alarm fatigue among critical care nurses was 21.11 ± 6.83. The results showed that critical care nurses experienced moderate alarm fatigue levels, and most nurses had moderate to high levels of burnout. The multiple linear regression analyses showed that alarm fatigue was independently associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization dimensions, and reduced personal accomplishment dimension.ConclusionsAlarm fatigue was associated with burnout among critical care nurses. Reducing critical care nurses' alarm fatigue may help to alleviate burnout.Relevance to clinical practiceManagers should provide comprehensive training for nurses and promote the application of artificial intelligence technology in alarm management to reduce alarm fatigue and improve burnout among critical care nurses.

Levels and Factors of Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue in Critical Care Settings in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, on study in Saudi Arabia reported that CCNs experienced moderate alarm fatigue and moderate-to-high burnout. 15 Another study showed that working in ICUs is associated with high levels of stress, which can lead to decreased productivity and poor healthcare quality if not well handled. 30 Although these studies did not show the association between nationality and alarm fatigue, their findings indicate that Saudi Arabian CCNs may be overly stressed and exhausted, which may play a role in alarm fatigue.…”

“…16 Consequently, the Joint Commission established the National Patient Safety Goals in 2014 to control and adjust the alarm safety standards. 16 The mean alarm score among Chinese critical care nurses was found to be 21.11 using the Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire (AFQ), 15 and the mean alarm score among Iranian nurses was found to be 19.08, indicating a moderate rank of alarm fatigue. 3 …”

“… 17 It can also negatively impact nurses’ competence and focus when performing their duties. 15 , 18 In addition, not all generated alarms have clinical significance. For instance, a study revealed that the majority of alarms were not clinically relevant, did little to alleviate patients’ conditions and could even make nurses become alarm-fatigued.…”

Machine Alarm Fatigue among Hemodialysis Nurses in 29 Tertiary Hospitals

“…Additionally, the study also discovered that alarm fatigue decreases with increasing 13 years of work experience, consistent with the results of our study. The survey results conducted by Ding S et al 22 among 236 critical care nurses from five hospitals in China similarly indicated a moderate level of alarm fatigue among critical care nurses, with the majority of nurses experiencing moderate to high levels of occupational burnout.…”

Celebrating our success over the holiday period: 40 papers to read over the holiday

“…Of these, six originated from China to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding glycaemic control among ICU professionals, 11 to explore the relationship between alarm fatigue and burnout among critical care nurses, 12 to examine the association between shift work schedules, compensatory sleep, work-family conflict, and fatigue of shift-working nurses, 13 to investigate stakeholders' values and preferences regarding draft recommendations for adapted physical restraint guidelines, 14 to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of prone positioning of patients among ICU nurses working in COVID19 units, 15 and to analyse the reliability and validity of a competency evaluation model for front-line nursing staff during the outbreak of major infectious diseases. 16 From Turkey, one study 17 identified the skin problems related to using personal protective equipment by ICU nurses, and another study 18 examined the relationship between alarm fatigue and the tendency to make medical errors among ICU nurses.…”