Nr361 Week 6: Distractors in Our Environments
Nr361 Week 6: Distractors. This week’s graded discussion topic relates to the following Course Outcome (CO).
- CO6 Discuss the principles of data integrity, professional ethics, and legal requirements related to data security, regulatory requirements, confidentiality, and client’s right to privacy. (PO 6)
Distractions are everywhere. They may include cellphones, multiple alarms sounding, overhead paging, monitors beeping, and various interruptions that disrupt your train of thought.
Give an example of an ethical or legal issue that may arise if a patient has a poor outcome or sentinel event because of a distraction such as alarm fatigue. What does evidence reveal about alarm fatigue and distractions in healthcare when it comes to patient safety?
Nr361 Week 6: Distractors Answer
The presence of various distractions in healthcare settings, ranging from cellphones and monitor beeping to multiple alarms and overhead paging, can significantly impact the delivery of patient care (Hebda & Czar, 2013). While ideal clinical environments incorporate alarm systems in medical devices for patient monitoring, numerous studies have consistently highlighted the challenge of sensory overload faced by nurses due to an excess of alarms.
Although these alarm systems are designed to enhance patient safety and promptly alert nurses to potential issues, research has shown that a substantial proportion of these alarms, more often than not, are false alarms that require no immediate intervention (West, Abbott, & Probst, 2014).
This dichotomy between the intended purpose of alarms and the prevalence of false alarms underscores the urgent need for strategies to mitigate alarm fatigue among healthcare professionals. Addressing this issue is crucial for optimizing patient safety and ensuring that the alarms serve their intended purpose effectively in clinical settings.
References: Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare professionals. Pearson.
West, J. J., Abbott, P., & Probst, C. (2014). Alarm fatigue: A patient safety concern. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 25(4), 378-386.
