The reasons of monitor alarms and the nurses' response type to monitor alarms in intensive care unit

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the reasons of monitor alarms, sound levels, the nurses' response type and nurses' arrival time for the intervention to monitor alarms in intensive care unit. Method: The research was conducted in observational, descriptive type. The study was conducted with a total of 328 observation hours in the Mediterranean University Hospital Anesthesia Intensive Care II (AYB-II) unit for a period of 6 months including August 2016-January 2017. The research data were collected by the "Monitor Alarms and Nurse's Response Type Evaluation Form" prepared by the researcher in accordance with the literature. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean), Chi-square analysis and Kruskal Wallis test were used in the evaluation of the data. Results: As a result of the research it was determined that majority of the 1781 alarms that occurred in 16.00-24.00 shift. It was determined that the nurses had come to the patient bed for %46.9 of the alarms that they needed to intervene and were in the act towards the patient or the medical device. It was determined that %37.6 of the alarms were "blood pressure", %35.3 were "respiratory and oxygen saturation", % 27.1were "heart rate and dysrhythmia" alarms. It was determined that % 41.5of the alarms were related to "the in-bed activity of the patient" and %25.4 of the alarms were related to "the contact and transmission problem". The most common response types of nurses for alarms are "silencing alarms", "intervening in the clinical situation of the patient" and "solving contact and transmission problems". As a result of the study, it was determined that the sound level of the monitor alarms 67.02 ± 2.40 decibel (A) the average duration of the nurse's arrival at the patient's bed was 102.81 ± 231.12 seconds. Conclusion: As a result, it is seen that the half of the alarms did not reflect the situation of the patient. The high number of alarms affects the nursing response situation and duration. It is recommended to organize training on the management of the monitor alarm, to monitor the alarm settings specific to the clinic. Key words: Monitor alarms, response methods, intensive care unit, nurse