Managing clinical alarm hazards and strategizing solutions

Overview

In today’s clinical environment, healthcare workers face many challenges in delivering safe, high-quality patient care. Although our technological advances provide targeted treatment to some of the most complex healthcare issues, they also add a level of risk. Clinical alarms, especially those related to physiologic monitoring of the patient, can provide protection and produce risks for patients. While they are designed to alert the clinician to the subtlest change in the patient’s condition, their sensitivity and/or improper use creates a high volume of non-actionable alarms. Add that to an already noisy clinical environment, and the importance of recognizing and proactively minimizing clinical alarm hazards becomes more obvious. This continuing education activity will discuss the scope and significance of clinical alarm hazards including national initiatives and will describe current guidelines and strategies to minimize alarm-associated risks to patients and staff.

Objectives

As a result of participating in this continuing education activity, the learner should be able to:

1. Discuss the scope and significance of clinical alarm hazards and their effect on everyday practice
   
2. Explain national initiatives regarding clinical alarm hazards and their integration into the workplace
   
3. Apply proven clinical strategies to practice in order to reduce clinical alarm hazards and improve patient safety

Intended audience

RNs, LPNs, CNAs, Monitoring Technicians and other healthcare professionals involved in caring for patients requiring cardiac monitoring, as well as nursing leaders involved in policies and procedures for cardiac monitoring.

Course outline

Navigating Clinical Alarm Hazards And Strategizing Solutions 
Objectives 
Introduction 

Clinical Alarm Hazards Defining The Issue 
Overview Of Clinical Alarm Hazards 
Identifying The Scope Of The Problem 
Significance Of These Technological Hazards 
Physiologic Monitoring And Alarm Hazards 
Section One Summary 
Case Study 1 
Knowledge Check 

National Initiatives Regarding Clinical Alarm Hazards 
History Of Clinical Alarm Hazard Recognition 
Agencies Involved In Tackling The Issue 
Regulatory Standards And Guideline Recommendations 
Future National Initiatives 
Cardiac Monitoring Alarm Hazards 
Section Two Summary 
Case Study 2 
Knowledge Check 

Strategies For Reducing Clinical Alarm Hazards At The Bedside 
Minimizing Clinical Alarm Fatigue 
Case Study 3 
Evaluating The Clinical Environment For Potential Noise Reduction 
Individualizing Clinical Cardiac Monitoring 
Case Study 4 
Proactive Tips For Reducing Non-actionable Alarms 
Case Study 5 
Knowledge Check

Author

JoAnne Phillips, DNP, RN, CPPS
JoAnne has over 35 years of nursing experience in numerous care settings. Her clinical background is in Surgical Critical Care and Trauma. JoAnne is chair of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Alarm Fatigue Task Force and is a member of the AAMI National Coalition on Alarm Safety. She has lectured and published on issues related to alarm safety. JoAnne has more than 18 publications and over 150 presentations, and is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. JoAnne educates caregivers on promoting safe and effective alarm management strategies in the clinical setting. She currently serves as the co-chair of the Alarm Safety Committee at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Nancy Vogt, MSN, BSED, RN
Nancy combines over 30 years nursing experience in critical care, pediatrics, ER and clinical teaching and educational program development. Her medical device experience includes quality assurance, clinical research, and professional education program development focused on safe and effective use of medical devices and evidence-based practice focused on patient outcomes.

Take the course and obtain CE credits

1 credit(s) available.
You will earn or renew the following credits upon successful completion of this course.

CNE - California - CA State Board RN

• Credit: 1.25 CNE
• Expiration: Feb 14, 2023

CONTINUING NURSING EDUCATION ACTIVITY RELEASE AND EXPIRATION 
DATE

• Release Date: 11/17/16 
  
• Expiration Date:  2/14/2023