Unit Gap Analysis—Strategies for Managing Alarm Fatigue
This Unit Gap Analysis tool is designed to help determine what strategies may already be in place for managing alarm fatigue in your unit. As with the
Change Readiness Assessment tool, you will gain the most value by having more than one person complete the assessment and then meet to discuss the
results. The goal is to identify areas where your unit is strong, as well as those areas where improvement is needed. Once the gaps are identified, it is
important to select and prioritize areas for improvement rather than tackling everything at once.
No/Never
Occasionally/
Sometimes
Yes/Always
Communication and Collaboration
Comments
Every team member on our unit embraces true collaboration as an
ongoing process and invests in its development to ensure a sustained
culture of collaboration.1
Every team member contributes to the achievement of common unit
goals.
All team members are informed and knowledgeable about patient
outcomes and performance improvement data for our unit.
1
AACN Standards for Establishing and Sustaining a Healthy Work Environment. Available at: http://www.aacn.org/WD/HWE/Docs/HWEStandards.pdf.
Accessed April 18, 2012.
Unit Gap Analysis: Strategies for Managing Alarm Fatigue
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Copyright © 2013 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
We have the ability to tailor cardiac monitor alarm parameters to the
individual patient.
We change ECG electrodes daily and as needed.
Before placing ECG electrodes, we prepare the skin.
We put a new set of batteries in the telemetry box before placing the
patient on the monitor.
We can easily distinguish critical-level alarms from lower-level alarms on
my unit.
On the Progressive Care or Telemetry Unit, we have incorporated the
recommendations for appropriate patient monitoring as presented in
the AHA Practice Standards for ECG Monitoring in the Hospital Setting.
(Available at: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/110/17/2721. full.pdf
+html)
Unit Gap Analysis: Strategies for Managing Alarm Fatigue
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Copyright © 2013 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
No/Never
Occasionally/
Sometimes
Yes/Always
Communication and Collaboration
Comments
We have a 5- to 15-second delay on the SpO2 monitors.
We individualize the SpO2 monitor alarm settings for each patient.
We use disposable probes for SpO2 monitoring.
Unit Gap Analysis: Strategies for Managing Alarm Fatigue
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Copyright © 2013 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
No/Never
Occasionally/
Sometimes
Yes/Always
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) Monitoring
Comments
We collaborate with the Respiratory Care Practitioners about individual
patient alarm settings.
We have identified Level 1 (high) events that are immediately life
threatening if left unattended for short periods of time.
We have identified Level 2 (medium) events that are potentially life
threatening if left unattended for longer periods.
We have identified Level 3 (low) non-ventilator events that are not
likely to be life threatening but a possible source of patient harm if not
addressed.
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Copyright © 2013 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
No/Never
Occasionally/
Sometimes
Yes/Always
Ventilator Alarms
Comments
Bed exit alarms are exclusively used for patients with delirium, with
cognitive impairment, or who are unable to walk without support or
have an unsteady gait.
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Copyright © 2013 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
No/Never
Occasionally/
Sometimes
Yes/Always
Bed-Exit Alarms
Comments