Monitor Alarms Education

1. Monitor Alarms Education

2. Completion of this Learning Module is mandatory for RN’sand LPN’s within Aultman Hospital who currently work where cardiac monitoring capabilities are present. • Read the information contained in this learning module. • Read and sign the Accountability Form entitled: Monitor Alarms Education • Completion Deadline:May 30, 2012 Information and Instructions

3. Objectives At the conclusion of this learning module, the Registered Nurse should be able to: • Identify the nurses’ responsibility for responding to ALL cardiac monitor alarms. • Identify the appropriate response to the “leads off” alarm. • Recognize when to change batteries in the telemetry unit.

4. Monitor watch • Staff is responsible to respond to all cardiac monitor alarms in a timely manner. • This includes all blue, yellow, and red alarms generated by the telemetry and hardwire systems. • Blue Alarms: “leads off” or off the monitor • Yellow Alarms: PVCs, NBP < or > established settings, and irregular heart rate • Red Alarms: Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

5. Monitor watch • The charge nurse, or his/her designee, will be responsible for listening for and visualizing alarms in the central station. • The person assigned to watch the central monitors must remain at the monitors unless they have another trained staff member available to relieve them. • Assign all patient care staff members to IP phones. • Each floor must have designated plans on which staff member to call to address the monitor alarm (primary and secondary). • The staff member at the central monitor should remain on the line with the patient care staff member until the monitor alarm is addressed.

6. Leads off • “Leads off” is displayed as a blue alarm with a low audible beep at the central station. • This alarm must be responded to promptly upon notification by entering the room and placing the patient back on the monitor. • Research has shown that not putting a monitor on standby if the patient is off the monitor can create a leads-off apathy which can result in poor patient outcomes.

7. Telemetry Batteries • Change batteries in the telemetry packs when the monitor shows either one or two green bars or states weak battery. This should be done when the signal first appears. Only new batteries should be used. • Use new batteries for each new patient. • Discard all batteries when telemetry is discontinued on a patient.

8. Standby feature • All monitors should be placed on standby if a patient is off the monitor for any reason such as showering or leaving the floor for a test. • Always indicate a reason for standby on the central monitor when placing the monitor on standby.

9. Safety in transports • Upon returning a patient to a room, the transporter is responsible for putting the call-light on. The transporter will wait for the nurse to come into the room and place the patient back on the monitor. • The nurse responding to the call-light will resume monitoring at the central station or communicate to the charge nurse to resume monitoring. • The nurse responding to the call light must verify that the monitoring has been resumed at the central monitor by staying on the phone with the charge or going to the central station.

10. Documentation • Document rhythm changes with an entry in the medical record and mount a printed strip. • In the event of a code, review the rhythm history as indicated. Document the rhythm and rate prior to the code and mount the rhythm strip in the medical record. • After a code, mount representative rhythm strips from the code in the medical record.

12. Remember A.l.a.r.m.s • A – Acknowledge alarm • L – Look at the monitor • A- Address the alarm • R – Respond to the alarm by entering the patient’s room • M – Make sure the patient is ok • S – Set the alarms to the patient

13. Accountability Form After you have completely read and understand this material, please enter the Quiz section of Quia and complete the Accountability Form for Monitor Alarms Education.