Perceptibility of medical alarms among nursing students using digital interactive multimedia for promoting client safety and care

Abstract

The widespread use of medical alarms in clinical in-patient facilities and also their frequent activation disrupts patient care and raises concerns about their effectiveness. Nursing students typically encounter these alarms primarily during clinical trainings or hospital internships, making it essential to learn how to respond to them early and effectively in nursing school, despite the stress it may cause during clinical and academic experiences. Educating nursing students about medical alarms not only enhances their understanding but also improves their ability to use these devices in the clinical settings, thereby positively impacting patient safety and care.

To achieve this, forty-one nursing students were initially recruited, with thirty-one participants ultimately enrolled (response rate 75.6%). The analysis of nursing student’s behaviors regarding client care revealed high scores in the subscales “Being Mindful of Client’s Breathing Behaviors” (M = 4.60), “Being Sensitive to Client’s Safety Behaviors” (M = 4.50), and “Ensuring Client’s Hygiene and Skin Integrity Behaviors” (M = 4.62). Particularly notable scores were observed in providing guidance and support for breathing comfort (Q2, M = 4.71), prioritizing response to clinical alarms (Q5, M = 4.61), and assessing hygiene and skin integrity (Q10, M = 4.68).

Although the questionnaire demonstrated acceptable reliability in both groups, with α = .65 for the intervention group and α = .68 for the control group, two items had lower reliability coefficients (≤ .59), specifically related to providing guidance and support for client breathing comfort and creating a supportive environment for client breathing focus.

These results suggest inconsistencies in caring behaviors among nursing students. Regarding the recognition of medical alarms, eighty percent of thirty-one participants scored 90% and above on Audio Quiz 1, while ninety-six percent scored 95% and above on Audio Quiz 2. Furthermore, 97.5% of thirty-one participants achieved a perfect score of 100% on Audio Quiz 3, indicating the effectiveness of clinical alarms education in enhancing their perception of clinical alarms. The insights from this research may contribute to the need for medical alarms education in nursing school, offering consideration for patients and the healthcare team.

Keywords: alarm fatigue, alarm management, nursing education, nursing need theory, behavior change, patient safety, nursing student, perception, medical alarm

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/116-02

Publication date: May 30th 2024