Daily Electrode Change and Effect on Cardiac Monitor Alarms

Abstract

Frequent monitor alarms are distracting and interfere with clinicians performing critical tasks. This article describes a quality improvement rapid-cycle change approach to explore the benefits of changing electrodes daily on the number of cardiac monitor alarms. Eight days of baseline and intervention data were compared for 2 adult acute care units. Average alarms per bed per day were reduced by 46% on both units. Daily electrocardiogram electrode change reduces the number of cardiac monitor alarms.