1
Changing protocols regarding alarm fatigue among nursing staff
College of Health Professions, Western Governors University D031:
Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice
2
Innovation Proposal
Disruptive Innovations that Improved Healthcare
As the frequency of alarms used in healthcare rises, alarm fatigue has been increasingly
recognized as an important patient safety issue (Woo et al., 2020). Nurses working in different practice
areas around a hospital are faced with many daily challenges. Among those already challenging
situations, they are faced with said alarm fatigue from having to respond to non-urgent alarms. For
effective communication between medical staff during their tours of duty, one disruptive innovation
proven to be effective is wearable technology. Such as the Vocera Smart badge, a smart hands-free
communication device designed to make communication and workflow better for medical
professionals. Effective communication between healthcare professionals is fundamental for patient
care and regular workflow throughout a medical facility. Having the technological advantage of a
hands-free device that enable you to contact any professional within your facility with a touch of a
button. Not only does this technology provide hands-free communication, it provides a safe and secure
platform for text messaging and alerts. The results highlight the potential benefits of Vocera for
improving communication within the healthcare team (West et al., 2019).
, Another disruptive innovation within the healthcare industry is the utilization of relaxation
rooms within the facilities to provide an outlet for frontline staff. This approach started to kick off more
in dept with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline workers were being faced with increased
workloads and levels of stress, without a reliable place to just decompress from a day’s work. There
was research conducted and data collected to how they could better assist frontline workers in these
stressful times. That’s where there “Recharge Rooms” commenced, providing a safe space for
employees to take advantage of complete relaxation with the use of aromatherapy, music therapy and
much more. Prior to entry into the Recharge Room, average stress level was reported as 4.6/6 (±1.1).
, 3
After a single 15-min experience in the Recharge Room, the average user-reported stress level was
1.85/6 (Putrino et al., 2020).
How the Nurse Innovator Demonstrates a Role in Conceptual Model
A nurse innovator is a nurse who specializes in bringing forth positive change in health care
quality and equity by addressing the unmet needs of a target population through new products,
processes, and services (Kelley, 2021). As an MSN nurse we can assume a role of a detective, scientist,
or a manager of the healing environment. By utilizing the WGU’s conceptual model we can mold our
practice to these concepts to better develop our progressive thinking. To the three established models
there are elements within such as Compassionate patient-centered care, Evidence based practice, Safety
and Quality.
The nurse as a detective will use clinical imagination and concrete evidence to be able to
determine how a subtle change to an established act or function can deviate from its expected pattern.
Now the nurse as a scientist gathers and utilizes scientific data to better influence healthcare decisions.
What changes can be made to better change the expected outcome within the findings. Nurse as
manager of the Healing Environment consists of social, cultural, political, and economic influences.
Acknowledging this, the nurse, as a member of the inter-professional community, influences public
policy and promotes social justice in the human health experience (Western Governors University,
2021). The nurse innovator can identify alarm fatigue patterns demonstrated among her nursing staff.
She would gather data on different ways or interventions that can be put in place to assist staff better.
She would work with the necessary team to make sure to implement the said intervention, monitoring
and tracking how it is affecting staff since the change.
Changing protocols regarding alarm fatigue among nursing staff
College of Health Professions, Western Governors University D031:
Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice
2
Innovation Proposal
Disruptive Innovations that Improved Healthcare
As the frequency of alarms used in healthcare rises, alarm fatigue has been increasingly
recognized as an important patient safety issue (Woo et al., 2020). Nurses working in different practice
areas around a hospital are faced with many daily challenges. Among those already challenging
situations, they are faced with said alarm fatigue from having to respond to non-urgent alarms. For
effective communication between medical staff during their tours of duty, one disruptive innovation
proven to be effective is wearable technology. Such as the Vocera Smart badge, a smart hands-free
communication device designed to make communication and workflow better for medical
professionals. Effective communication between healthcare professionals is fundamental for patient
care and regular workflow throughout a medical facility. Having the technological advantage of a
hands-free device that enable you to contact any professional within your facility with a touch of a
button. Not only does this technology provide hands-free communication, it provides a safe and secure
platform for text messaging and alerts. The results highlight the potential benefits of Vocera for
improving communication within the healthcare team (West et al., 2019).
, Another disruptive innovation within the healthcare industry is the utilization of relaxation
rooms within the facilities to provide an outlet for frontline staff. This approach started to kick off more
in dept with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline workers were being faced with increased
workloads and levels of stress, without a reliable place to just decompress from a day’s work. There
was research conducted and data collected to how they could better assist frontline workers in these
stressful times. That’s where there “Recharge Rooms” commenced, providing a safe space for
employees to take advantage of complete relaxation with the use of aromatherapy, music therapy and
much more. Prior to entry into the Recharge Room, average stress level was reported as 4.6/6 (±1.1).
, 3
After a single 15-min experience in the Recharge Room, the average user-reported stress level was
1.85/6 (Putrino et al., 2020).
How the Nurse Innovator Demonstrates a Role in Conceptual Model
A nurse innovator is a nurse who specializes in bringing forth positive change in health care
quality and equity by addressing the unmet needs of a target population through new products,
processes, and services (Kelley, 2021). As an MSN nurse we can assume a role of a detective, scientist,
or a manager of the healing environment. By utilizing the WGU’s conceptual model we can mold our
practice to these concepts to better develop our progressive thinking. To the three established models
there are elements within such as Compassionate patient-centered care, Evidence based practice, Safety
and Quality.
The nurse as a detective will use clinical imagination and concrete evidence to be able to
determine how a subtle change to an established act or function can deviate from its expected pattern.
Now the nurse as a scientist gathers and utilizes scientific data to better influence healthcare decisions.
What changes can be made to better change the expected outcome within the findings. Nurse as
manager of the Healing Environment consists of social, cultural, political, and economic influences.
Acknowledging this, the nurse, as a member of the inter-professional community, influences public
policy and promotes social justice in the human health experience (Western Governors University,
2021). The nurse innovator can identify alarm fatigue patterns demonstrated among her nursing staff.
She would gather data on different ways or interventions that can be put in place to assist staff better.
She would work with the necessary team to make sure to implement the said intervention, monitoring
and tracking how it is affecting staff since the change.
