Mechanism, contributing factors, and coping strategies of alarm fatigue in intensive care nursing: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore the mechanism, contributing factors of alarm fatigue among nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and to develop targeted coping strategies.

Methods

A combination of purposive and snowball sampling was employed to recruit 27 frontline clinical nurses from various ICU departments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and an inductive content analysis of the interview transcripts was performed based on Cognitive Load Theory and the Job Demands-Resources Model.

Results

The study found that alarm fatigue involves dynamic shifts among three cognitive states-cognitive reserve deficit, cognitive load balance, and cognitive overload-with overload being the immediate trigger. Nurses often enter ICU work with limited cognitive reserves. Whether they m

SUBMITTER: Zhu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12531151 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature