Alarm Fatigue: A Concept Analysis

Alarm fatigue has emerged as a growing concern for patient safety in healthcare. There is a need for a clear and common understanding of the concept to assist in the development of effective strategies and policies to eradicate the multi-dimensional aspects of the alarm fatigue phenomena affecting the nursing practice arena. The concept of alarm fatigue will be examined based on the method developed by Walker and Avant (1995) that identifies the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of alarm fatigue constructed upon the findings of the literature review. Additionally, empirical referents are identified and illustrations of the concept are presented in model, borderline, and contrary cases.